Carlsbad Caverns National Park is the premier cave destination in the world.  Imagine descending over 250 meters (750 feet) into the dark depths, but finding lighted pathways through chambers of stalactites, stalagmites and many other formations.  There are numerous tours offered, some of which are more strenuous, but reservations are a must during the busy summer season. 

            The most popular tour is the Blue Tour which begins at the Visitor Center and descends into the cavern through its natural entrance. Be aware that this walk is fairly strenuous and includes numerous stairs.

            The Scenic Rooms, such as the King’s Palace, Queen’s Chamber, and the Papoose Room contain remarkably exquisite formations.

            There is even a post office, gift shop, and snack bar in the “Big Room”.  Return to the surface is via elevator.  Because the cave is a constant 55^o F, appropriate clothing is recommended.

             A Ranger-led tour is the best way to see the caverns since park rangers are usually extremely knowledgeable about the geology and ecology of the area and are happy to answer questions.

            For those visitors in the region for several days, an interesting excursion from Carlsbad is to travel northwest to White Sands National Monument, an extensive area of pure white gypsum sand located near Alamogordo, New Mexico.  Dunes Drive affords the visitor access to the area.

            For truly different and unusual excursion, travel north from Carlsbad to Roswell, New Mexico, which is world-famous for its supposed UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) sightings, dating back to a reported UFO crash in 1947.  Aliens are portrayed everywhere in the area.

            Gary’s Gem

                        Every evening from late spring to early autumn, there is a Ranger talk and viewing of the daily exodus of hundreds of thousands of bats from their roosting sites inside the cave.  The National Park has created an amphitheater to facilitate the viewing and to discuss the natural history of these fascinating mammals.

             Rocky Mountain National Park includes a portion of the front range of the Rocky Mountains.  Mountain scenery is spectacular as Trail Ridge Road leaves Estes, Colorado, and rises to the Continental Divide (an imaginary line which pertains to the movement of rivers -- rivers to the east of the divide travel to the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico, rivers to the west travel to the Pacific) and beyond.  Notable locations on the highway include Berthoud Pass and Grand Lake. Wildlife sightings are usually frequent.

            The Colorado Rockies area, just west of Denver, offers a variety of year-round activities, besides those already described in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Golden is the location of the Coors Brewing Company. Boulder is the home of the University of Colorado and its setting, at the base of the Rockies, is truly spectacular. The area is very popular with rock-climbers. Leadville, which prospered because of its silver mines, is interesting to visit because its looks very much like it did during its mining days.  

            Aspen, Colorado is one of America’s foremost ski areas. The town, nestled in the Rocky Mountains was once a premier location for mining silver, but has now been transformed into a resort area in the winter, and attracts many of the rich and famous as well as snow buffs from all over the world. 

            Vail, Colorado, like Aspen, is one of the nation’s premier skiing areas. Vail has the look and feel of an alpine village and offers activities throughout the year to capitalize on its reputation.

            Gary’s Gem:

                        An interesting day trip while in the area is to head 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Denver, to Fort Collins, where numerous companies offer white water rafting trips on the Cache la Poudre River. Be sure to make reservations in advance, since these excursions are extremely popular.

            Acadia National Park, southeast of Bangor, Maine, preserves a beautiful, rugged area of the Atlantic Ocean coastline.  Although it is one of America’s smallest national parks, it is one of the most visited because of its location in the northeast corridor.  Much of the area of the park was donated (predominantly by the Rockefellers). Park Loop Road provides access to the major attractions of the park, such as Cadillac Mountain and Otter Cliffs.  Interestingly, Acadia National Park is composed of two separate areas, the main one, described above, and the Schoodic Peninsula, about one hour’s drive northeast along the coast.

            Bar Harbor, Maine, is the gateway into Acadia National Park.  As such, it offers lodging, restaurants, and shops as well as boat tours and cruises of the surrounding offshore area.  It is somewhat “honky-tonk” as many of these types of venues tend to become, but it retains a kind of charm, nevertheless.  Bar Harbor is also a primary departure and arrival points for ferries to and from Nova Scotia, Canada and provides access to Canada’s Maritime Provinces while avoiding some of the long driving distances.  

            Gary’s Gem:

                        1. Cadillac Mountain affords breathtaking views of the Maine Coast and is a popular vista from which to observe sunrise (park literature claims that observers here are the first in the USA to see the sun rise). 

                        2.  There are numerous walking/hiking trails within the park which traverse the woods, as well as the coastline.   

                        3.  Don’t forget to sample the fresh lobster available at many of the communities which border the park.

             Niagara Falls, which straddles the border between upstate New York (USA) and Ontario, Canada, has been a top tourist destination for almost two (2) centuries.  The American Falls are slightly higher, but not as wide as the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, named for their curved shape.  The area is extremely accessible, because it is fairly close to several major population centers (Toronto, Canada and Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester, New York). 

            Niagara Falls, New York is a bit honky-tonk, but it still commands respect because it has survived so many years as a destination.  Obviously, the beauty and romance associated with Niagara Falls has transcended the mundane reality and commercialism of the nearby area.  The sheer immensity of the falls, millions of gallons of water pouring over a precipice and dropping 60 meters (180 feet) makes it a spectacular sight, but when all of the accoutrements are considered, there is much to do which warrants a stay of two or three days. 

            Be sure to see the falls at night -- they are lit with colored lights for several hours after sundown and present a totally different ambiance.

            Take a walk along the falls, particularly to Goat Island, during the day to view them from various angles

            One of the best activities while in the area is a Maid-of-the-Mist boat ride for an up-close view of the falls from below (even though the thought of riding in a crowded boat with ugly raingear on into an area of dangerous swirling, fast-moving water sounds a bit bizarre, it is an obligatory experience for any self-respecting tourist).

            Gary’s Gems

                        1. Even though the food is extremely average and over-priced, the view of Niagara Falls from the Skylon Tower’s revolving restaurant on the Canadian side is positively spectacular.

                        2. The “Cave of the Winds” adventure (USA) or “Table Rock Scenic Tunnels” (Canada) offer a different perspective from below the falls (raingear is issued for both attractions and participants will get wet!).

                        3. The Niagara Falls IMAX Theatre, on the Canadian side, provides a film which explores the history of the falls, especially showcasing the daredevils who, over the years, have challenged Niagara.         

            Grand Canyon National Park is so beautiful and spectacular that people who see it have difficulty expressing themselves.  Because the area is so huge (it can be seen from outer space) it defies description and is hard to capture adequately in photographs because of the immense scale.  However, it is, without question, one of the most, if not the most, significant natural landscape on the planet and, for that reason, a must-see for all people of the world who value travel!  It is basically a gigantic gash in the earth’s crust, carved by a river or successive rivers over millions of years.  What today’s visitors see are layers of multi-colored sandstone lining the walls of the canyon and huge mesas and buttes rising from the depths to fill much of the space. At the bottom of it all is the thin, muddy Colorado River which winds its way through (it defies imagination to realize that this tiny river has helped to create this masterpiece although geologists know that it was significantly larger in the past).

            Considering the immensity of the Grand Canyon (over 300 km or 200 miles long, 16 km or 10 miles wide and a mile deep) the park area which can be visited is remarkably compact (only about 32 km or 20 miles long on both the North Rim (less accessible and less crowded) and the South Rim (the major visitor area and extremely crowded during the summer months).

            Looking down into the canyon means looking back over almost 2 billion years of earth history and is a geological bonanza for scientists.  But the average person is unaware of that and is just able to appreciate the incredible beauty of the place.

            Different overlooks, such as Mather Point, Hopi Point and Grandview Point on both West Rim and East Rim Drive give the observer different views and even different perspectives on the canyon. There are many such overlooks, so be sure to check them all out.

            Try to be in the park until evening to see the area’s transformation as light diminishes and shadows creep across the abyss. 

            Gary’s Gem: 

                        1.  See the IMAX presentation before heading to the viewing areas to better understand what can be seen. 

                        2.  Bring lots of water, especially for a descent into the canyon.  And do descend into the canyon either on foot or by mule to get a totally different perspective.

                        3.  A particularly good vantage point is from the top of the watchtower at Desert View.

                        4.  Acrophobics beware! The newest attraction at the canyon is a glass platform which protrudes 70 feet (24 meters) beyond the canyon rim and affords very unusual views of the canyon floor directly below. This attraction, called the Grand Canyon Skywalk, is located at the Hualapai Indian Reservation, which, unfortunately, is inconvenient to get to. Although only about 90 miles (150 kilometers) west of the South Rim Visitor Center, it requires a drive of almost 250 miles (400 kilometers) because of the lack of roads in the area. Once on the reservation, there is an additional 14 mile (20 kilometer) drive on windy, unpaved roads to reach the attraction. The tribe offers a variety of tour packages which include access to the skywalk. Don’t fret too much about the possibility of the glass breaking since it has been built to withstand over 70 million pounds of weight, winds of over 100 miles per hour, and an earthquake of magnitude 8.0. In addition, the number of visitors on the glass bridge is restricted to 120 at a time.  

             Zion National Park, in Utah, is another monument to the forces of erosion and their effect on the landscape.  The difference between Zion and other parks such as the Grand Canyon, is that here, the visitor is at the bottom of the canyon, looking up at all the creations.  The park, as its name suggests, has a religious theme since it was discovered by Mormons who applied various religious epithets to the park’s landmarks.  A shuttle service operates to reduce or eliminate traffic on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, the most popular part of the park.

            Zion Canyon is the most spectacular and most frequented area with prominent features such as, the Great White Throne, the Three Patriarchs, Angel’s Landing, etc., greeting the visitor at every bend of the 5 1/2 mile (8 kilometer) scenic drive.

            Walk the trails to Weeping Rock and to Emerald Pool for some different types of terrain and environments.  

            Other parts of the park require motor travel.  For instance, the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, which cuts across the southern part of the park, is a state highway and frequently congested because of through traffic. The highway allows access to some very different and unusual landscapes. This area is characterized by smooth, sculpted mounds, interspersed with evergreen trees, known as checkerboard mesas. Geologically, this area was once a series of sand dunes which have now been transformed into rock.

            Gary’s Gem:

                        Another area of the park (Kolob Canyons) is accessible via Interstate 15 (about 50 miles from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center). A five mile (8 kilometer) scenic drive provides spectacular views of red sandstone cliffs surrounding a verdant valley -- very beautiful. This area, because it is isolated from the major area of the park has considerably less traffic and crowds.

            Bryce Canyon National Park, in Utah, is a fantasy land of shapes and colors.  The visitor looks down, or walks down, into a bowl of spires, called hoodoos.  Each hoodoo is layered with colors, primarily red, orange, yellow, brown, and white, and rises from the amphitheater below in weird shapes or formations.  Most of these pillars are narrow and fingerlike, but others are wide, forming small buttes.  The colors change over the course of the day, due to shadows and lighting, but the views are always spectacular.

            Ride along the rim road stopping at each of the overlooks to appreciate all areas of the park. Particularly beautiful views are found at Inspiration Point, Rainbow Point, Bryce Point, and Fairyland Point.

            Not far from Bryce to the south lies Capitol Reef National Park which is located  just off Highway 12 in Utah, a beautiful scenic drive in its own right.  The park preserves a dramatic section of the Waterpocket Fold, a noticeable uplift which extends approximately 160 km (100 miles) in total.  The park roads traverse a very scenic section of the Fold, and trails from the road give access to other areas of the park. 

            Gary’s Gem:

                        1. While in Bryce Canyon National Park, hike at least one of the park’s trails to get an up-close and personal look at the hoodoos, and a different perspective on the area.  Many trails are fairly strenuous because of the elevation changes as you descend into the amphitheater, but there are easy trails as well.

                        2.  In Capitol Reef, take the Capitol Gorge Trail, a fairly easy walk which provides access to an interesting area where pioneers camped and left their names and short philosophies on the rocks of the canyon.

             Glacier National Park is located in Northern Montana and is associated with Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, the two together comprising Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, an interesting concept involving cooperation of two separate countries to preserve an area of exceptional beauty.  The area is, of course, known for its glaciers (which, by the way, are receding significantly), but there are other attractions, such as, wildlife, lakes, hiking trails, etc.

            Going-to-the-Sun Road, a spectacular 50 mile (80 kilometer) scenic drive, bisects the park and offers breath-taking vistas throughout. Stop at the Logan Pass Visitor Center, roughly halfway across, at the Continental Divide, for information and access to several trails. Nearby, the road hugs the cliffs of deep, steep valleys allowing unobstructed views of mountains and glaciers. Be on the lookout for Rocky Mountain Goats which are quite common at the high altitudes. There are many other hiking trails but few other roads.

            The two major lakes of the park, Saint Mary Lake, on the eastern side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Lake McDonald, on the western side, offer aquatic activities.  

            Gary’s Gem:

                        Travel north from the St Mary (eastern) entrance of the park about 100 km (60-70 miles) to the Waterton Lakes region in Canada. Visit the beautiful, old, Prince Of Wales Hotel (one of the stately Canadian Railroad Hotels which are found across Canada) on the shores of Lake Waterton and sample a slice of the Canadian version of this truly international park.

            The Amalfi Coast Drive, located southwest of the city of Naples, is, arguably, the most spectacular drive in the world. The road (SS 163) winds its way along cliffs which hover precipitously above the ocean.  Nestled at various points along the drive are small, charming towns which cling to the cliffs of the Latari Mountains and tumble down to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The entire length is only about 48 kilometers (30 miles) but beautiful views are found throughout. The road is extremely narrow and is especially hazardous when large tour buses approach from the opposite direction. However, it is all worth the effort as long as there is no urgency.  Plan to stop at several of the Villages, such as Positano, Amalfi, or Maiori to enjoy the ambience and to experience the slow pace and charm. 

            Among the villages, Positano is one of the most popular. Its main street is lined with shops and restaurants and must be appreciated by walking.  Parking in all these villages is a potential problem; however, there are several parking lots available as well as some on-street parking. There is much to do at any time of the day in Positano, which adds to its popularity.  Admire the Santa Maria Assunta Church with its gold and green ceramic dome, on the Piazza Flavio Gioia.  Stroll along the flower-festooned Via Mulini and linger at its little squares. Find your way to the Spraggia Grande, the main beach, then to the stone pier at one end, and climb the staircase to the Via Positanesi d‘ America, a walkway which provides excellent views.

            Amalfi, at the opposite end of the drive, is the largest community on this section of coast, so also affords visitors a wealth of activities and makes a good base of operations for those staying on the coast. Its Duomo, with its Paradise Cloister, is one of the sights worth mentioning.

            Above Amalfi is the charming little village of Ravello, which has perhaps the best views along the entire coast. The main square is adorable, with its cute little Duomo, shops, and restaurants.  Take a walk from the square to either the Villa Rufolo or the Villa Cimbrone for unforgettable views of the coastline.

            Probably the best place to stay in the area is the city of Sorrento, several miles north of Positano and about 30 km (20 miles) south of Naples. Sorrento has many more lodging and restaurant choices than other locations in  the area, and offers ferry service to places like Capri or Naples.

            Isle of Capri is a beautiful spot and probably the most popular excursion from Naples or Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast. It is only a 20-25 minute ferry ride from Sorrento.  The ferry deposits visitors at the Marina Grande from which tourist can either catch a bus or funicular to Capri Town, the largest and most popular town on the island, or pick up a smaller boat to the famous Blue Grotto, a cave system on the southeast coast of the island which is notable for its bluish glow. To see the grotto, visitors must actually take one boat from the marina, then change to a smaller boat at the entrance to the cave and wait in line for the opportunity to enter. The experience is actually quite kitschy and is may not be worth the expense, although many who have been there are still mesmerized by the experience.

            Capri Town is a white-washed village which sits high above the marina, on the southern coast of the island. Its labyrinthine alleys are a delight to explore and there is shopping galore for those so inclined. Wander down to the Certosa di San Giacomo or to the nearby estate of the Krupp family for incredible views of the coastline at Punta Tragara and of the I Faraglioni, three huge offshore rocks which make a spectacular photograph.

            Other places on the island which are worthy of a visit are Anacapri, a smaller village which is even higher above the water, Villa Jovis, constructed by the Roman Emperor Tiberius, and Villa San Michele, which provides access to the Sphinx Parapet.

            The Cabot Trail, which traverses the coastline of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and also crosses the highlands of its interior, is another of Canada’s spectacular scenic drives. Entry and exit points for the drive are near the city of Baddeck.  The drive can be started either on the east or west side of Cape Breton.  Visitors should note that the larger Visitor Center is on the western side of the drive, at Cheticamp.  The southerly parts of the drive are not particularly special, but the northerly sections provide not only spectacular scenery but steep climbs and hairpin turns as well.  This upper section is within the boundaries of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, which extends from Ingonish on the east to Cheticamp on the west.  Also within the park are numerous trails or hikes, scenic overlooks, and several villages and detours to explore.

            Not far from the eastern entrance to the Cabot Trail, actually on the eastern coast of Cape Breton is the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.  This wonderful open air museum allows visitors to embark on a journey back in time to a French colonial city in the year 1744.  Much of the original settlement has been restored and costumed residents provide information about the times and their particular station in life.  Demonstrations and exhibits reveal the practices of the time and visitors are even invited to sample the food of the era.  Shuttle buses provide transport from the Visitor Center which offers information and displays concerning Louisbourg.  Guided tours are offered in English and in French.

            The King’s Bastion is a must-see location on the site. It was the royal residence and the Governor’s quarters are about as posh and elegant as the colony could muster. Many of the homes and other buildings are not only open, but they function as they might have long ago.