I can't get enough of Gooseberry Falls - An awesome Minnesota State Park about 20 miles north of Two Harbors and 40 miles north of Duluth. I have been visiting this state park since 1982, camping, hiking the falls trails and just enjoying the awesome Lake Superior.
Taking the 3 hour ride on the historic Steam railroad from Durango to Silverton Colorado is a great experience for all ages. Great views and a nostalgic mountain city visit at the end.
The Ticket is $65 for adults and your best bet is to get a seat in the covered waggon as far back as you can. This will help you to avoid much of the smoke and smell and coal and water, etc spewed out by the steam engine.
There are multiple departures from Durango in the morning and all returns are in the afternoon - giving you 2 hours to shop and have lunch in Silverton. You can ride up in Train and take the bus back for an extra $10-$14 charge if you like. Taking the bus back will save you over an hour.
Have your camera ready at all time and when you hear the engine horn, something is coming up - the train blows out steam on several historic bridges - an awesome view to capture and watch.
There is snack shop on the train but you can bring your own food & drink if you like. Dress in layers since temp. changes quickly as the train climbs the mountain.
While in Silvertyon, stop at Gold King Bar & Restaurant - a nostalgic bar-restaurant with a great Piano playing show girl. The food is great, staff are very friendly and the decor is right from 1800s.
OK, Colorado is all mountains and green all over, so what is a Sand Dune National Park doing in the middle of it all?
You'll be surprised - as you are driving south on 285 towards Pagosa Springs, you'll see a large yellow patch in the middle of moutains and all green way on the East - you wonder what it it is and you check your map to find out its the "Great Sand Dunes National Park of Colordao". Its worth the trip and getting off the track. You'll be delightfully surprised.
Stop at the guest center to read about the history of these San Dunes and then drive all the way to the river and take a walk to a genuine dessert in the middle of Colorado.
Make sure you take plenty of water with you and bring a plastic sled or a piece of hard/smooth plastic to ride the Dunes. Kids love it. Oh, don't forget your sun glasses.
If you are anywhere near Pagosa Springs, Durango or Chimney Rock - you should take a side trip to Vallecito Lake. Its just 15 miles northeast of Durango Colorado, a beautiful body of water at 8000 ft elavation surrounded by the San Juan Mountains.
A great place to camp is San Juan Mountains Recreation State park, awesome if you can get a lake side camp site. Lots of hiking and fishing opportunities.
While camping on Vallecito lake, you can rent boats on the west side of the lake, have dinner in one of the cozy restaurants with great food.
Chimney Rock in South West Colorado is a very interesting place to visit - a lot of history and an awesome view. BUT you can only take a guided tour to the top and hence you have to put up with a slow pace. It'll take you 2 1/2 to 3 hours to get it down but since there is no other choice its worth it.
Chimney Rock is 17 miles west of Pagosa Springs (42 miles east of Durango) on Hwy 151.
Guided tours start st 9:30 am, 10:30 am, Noon, 1pm and 2pm. Cost is $8 for adults and $2 for kids. No pets are allowed and kids are going to have a hard time staying with the slow pace tour and stay on the trail but once they get to the top they'll forget all about the boring stuff.
If you ever live in Colorado or visit, you've got to spend some time at one or more of its many hot springs.
Mount Princeton Hot Springs should be on your visit list. Your best choice is to stay at the "Mount Princeton Hot Spring Resort" in Nathrop Colorado. Plan to spend few days relaxing in the river side hot springs or one of the pools. Plan ahead and get one of the cliffside rooms (#1 - #20) with awesome mountain views.
The resort has a great restaurant, a bit pricey but good food and good service. They serve breakfast 7-10 am, lunch 11 am - 1:45 pm and dinner 5-8:45 pm.
Pagosa Springs is another popular Colorado Hot Springs, but compared to the natural beauty and atmospher of Mount Princeton, Pagosa Springs is more like a truck stop town.
If you have to stay in Pagosa Springs, do visit "The Springs" with 18 terraced pools of naturally hot therapeutic mineral water, individually temperatured, ranging from 84 degrees to 114 degrees. Its open to the Inn Guests 24 hours a day and to public 7am - 1am. $18 per person per visit.
Try to stay away from "The SPA @ Pagosa Springs, which advertises as an indoor European-style therapeutic hot mineral baths, steam rooms and showers as well as large outdoor mineral water swimming pool and hot tub. Its just a cheap motel. If you want to use "The Springs" stay at the "Spring Inn" right next to "The Springs" or at the Best Western across the street.
Awesome Trip.
April & May are goo dmonths to visit Malaysia before it gets too hot and too humid.
Enjoyed visiting the twin towers in Kuala Lumpur - these are awesome architectured towers (not just typical box buildings) and they are now the 2nd tallest buildings in the world. The Taipe Towers in twaian is the tallest and Sears Towers in Chicago is now the 3rd tallest building in the world.
Spent a few days at the Islands and a great experience. Crossing the China Sea to the Islands was an experience by itself. Should cross early in the morning when the water is calm otherwise be ready for a rough wave ride.
Easy driving all over.
