NEXT STOP;ALASKA

TEN TRIVIAL FACTS ABOUT ALASKA

1. There is more than three million lakes in Alaska.
2. In America Alaska is also called the 'Lower 48'.
3. Dog mushing is the official state sport. The Alaska Legislature adopted it in 1972. 
4. Alaska's name is based on the Eskimo word Alakshak meaning great lands or peninsula. 
5. Three groups of natives lived in Alaska: Eskimos, Aleuts, and Indians.
6. Aurora Borealis [northern lights] can be seen an average of 243 days a year in FairBanks. The northern lights are produced by charged electrons and protons striking the earth's upper atmosphere.
7. Alaska has 29 volcanoes.
8. Giant vegetables are common in Alaska due to the extremely long days in summer which account for a record cabbage weighing in at 94 pounds.
9.  In general, two supspecies of Brown Bear are recognized in Alaska, the coastal brown bear and the inland grizzly. Depending on the availability of food, adult 'Brownies' can range between 350lbs and 1,500lbs.
10. To dispel a myth, porcupines don’t actually throw their quills, although when they shake their tails the quills easily come loose.  The quills are prized by Alaskan Natives for jewelry and decoration on clothing.

TRAVELING DOES A HEART GOOD

 I have so much updating to do. I went to Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, and Louisiana within a course of 3 weeks. Fun was had, food was consumed, and alligators were held. YUP, just typical traveling for yours truly. Unfortunately, my phone died AND my camera wasn't charged on my trips, so I don't have many pics to share :(, but hopefully I will make up for it with my astounding story telling skills. Before the stories begin, I will leave you with some of my travel quotes, that inspire what I do :) 

NEXT STOP;NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

TEN TRIVIAL FACTS ABOUT NOLA!

1. New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville. At first, the community was nothing more than a trading camp on the curving east bank of the Mississippi River. Later, the city was organized into a rectangular, fortified community, which still exists today as the French Quarter. The original streets, laid out in a grid, were named for French royalty and nobility.
2. Canal Street, once the widest street in the world, was named for a canal that was planned for, but never built, on the street's dividing median. For decades, the median's only use was public transportation, mostly by the Canal Street streetcars.
3. Young, high-society Creole maidens were not allowed to wear velvet or glance into the eyes of young men.
4. The game of craps was brought in New Orleans by Bernard de Marigny; its name probably derives from "crapaud," the French word for "frog," since some Americans thought of the French as frog-eaters.
5. When ice got too expensive, some Creole families who loved to entertain would crush glass and sew it into cheesecloth bags, floating the bags in water pitchers to mimic the tinkle of ice.
6. The St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest continually operating cathedral in the United States. 
7. Several of Louisiana's lovely, historic plantations feature floor-level mirrors, in which ladies could ensure that no ankle was showing. 
8. New Orleans is where opera was first performed in the U.S., back in 1796.
9. Poker was invented in New Orleans in the 1700s.
10. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, which still reigns supreme in the city today. Later, jazz spawned both the blues and rock and roll.

Next Stop; LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

 Ten Trivial Facts about Nebraska

1. In 1927, Edwin E. Perkins of Hastings invented the powered soft drink Kool-Aid.
2. State insect is the honeybee
3. The state nickname used to be the "Tree Planter's State", but was changed in 1945 to the "Cornhusker State".
4. Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich.
5. The Lied Jungle located in Omaha is the world's largest indoor rain forest.
6. The largest porch swing in the world is located in Hebron, Nebraska and it can sit 25 adults.
7. Antelope and Buffalo are counties in Nebraska named after animals.
8. Lincoln County is the origin of the world's largest "Wolly Mammoth" elephant fossil.
9. Spam (canned meat) is produced in Fremont.(thank you Nebraska!)
10. The world's largest hand-planted forest is Halsey National Forrest near Thedford, Nebraska

Been there Done that;Catalina Island Facts

10 Trivial Facts about Catalina Island (Avalon, CA)

1. The island once belonged to chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, who also owned the Chicago Cubs
2. Catalina Island is the only spot on the West Coast where bison roam freely.
3. Automobiles are outlawed on Catalina Island; everyone gets around on golf carts.
4. The Casino is the largest structure on Catalina, but has never been used for gambling.
5. Marilyn Monroe lived on Catalina Island for 18 months while married to her first husband, William Dougherty, who was in the Merchant Marines.
6. The Chicago Cubs used Catalina Island as the site of its training camp from 1931 to 1951
7. Ronald Reagan had his first screen test on Catalina Island while doing radio broadcasts.
8. General George S. Patton Jr. met his wife Beatrice (Ayer) on Catalina when they were children.
9. Since the use of motor vehicles on the island is restricted; there is a limit on the number of registered cars, which translates into a 14-year-long wait list to bring a car to the island
10.  Great white sharks are also occasionally found or caught off the coast of Catalina, though usually around seal rookeries and not around inhabited areas
    
    

BY LAND AND SEA; ADVENTURE TIME IN CATALINA ISLAND

  

Which way do I Go!!? This is often a question I ask myself. Not so much because I am directionally challenged, but because I can be REALLY indecisive when there are so many places to go, things to eat, and stuff to buy! I suppose that statement sums me up! I love to travel, try new cuisuine and shop! Throw a lil adventure in there, and the fact that I love Jesus Christ, and you now know everything about me :).  


 Which way did I go for this first post? Well, it was a short and sweet trip I took in 2011 to Catalina Island. If you havent been there before, hopefully my blog will inspire you to make it your next stop! 

BY LAND AND SEA; ADVENTURE TIME IN CATALINA ISLAND

View after hiking

View from the boat upon arrival to the island

  I needed a break from the norm, so I decided to go…..26 miles across the sea where Santa Catalina  was waiting for me. What a treasure this little island is.  A small coastal town where the population is about 3,000, this place is designed for much needed retreats. It is advertised as a place for lovers, but let me tell you, it is just as satisfying, and fulfilling for this Lady in waiting. There are no lack of things to do here, it caters to the adventurous, lazy, young and old! I just so happen to  fit in each of these categories…….so I had a blast! The 1 hour boat ride to the island is a retreat in itself, if you are lucky; you get to spot some playful dolphins who like to race the boats. 

I may or may not be claustrophobic

UNDER ATTACK IN THE SEMI SUB

The island provides so much to do, you can hike or explore the island for FREE or take advantage of the fairly priced Discovery tours. I personally chose the Under Sea Semi sub tour, and it was worth every penny. For $40 bucks, I was not let down, we saw so many fish,  it looked like our sub was under attack . Our tour guide was very knowledgable, and adorable with all his cheesy fish jokes. No better way to spend an afternoon than being  25 feet underwater with a bunch of strangers and an 18 yr old local who knows every thing about the island. As an shark lover, I was on pins and needles as he shared a true story about a female kayaker who ran into a great white shark in 2010. Don't worry,  I wont spoil that story for you. 



Aside from tourist activities, the one thing I repeated during my trip was getting ice cream from Big Olaf's. Located right on the beach, for $4.00 you will get a  Ginormous waffle cone filled with a variety of different flavors they have to choose from. Other than the price and flavors (Pistachio being my fave) I suspect I  visited Big Olaf's so much because it was also right in front of my hotel.  I stayed at the Villa Portofino Inn, just steps from the beach, the room was small but functional. The hotel was well kept, with a beautiful sun deck and a spectacular view of the island that made every penny worth it. Not only was the hotel fairly priced, but they also provided me with a free and might I add very practical gift! It was a bright yellow Villa Portofino Inn tote bag! Perfect for those short trips to the beach.  

VIEW FROM THE SUN DECK

If you are asking yourself...Did she really just eat Ice Cream there? The answer is no. I really wanted seafood, but was not motivated because California seafood has let me down so many times, so I decided against it. Instead, I went to a Mexican Restaurant on the island. The portions were large, and priced well. Still with reservations about Cali seafood, I decided to give this place a shot, and try their shrimp, and carne asada tacos. The shrimp was OUTSTANDING!, I'm talking flavor city!  I totally enjoyed my last minute change of mind. The best part was that they let you keep your cup as a souvenir, another free gift....SCORE!! That was my only splurge on food. For the rest of the weekend, I went to the local Vons, and took advantage of the benefits of a fridge in the hotel. I saved some money and enjoyed a childhood favorite; bologna,cheese,and frito sandwiches, don’t knock it till you try it! There is so much I didn't get to do, but the bright side of that is I have a reason to go back. The ride home was the icing on the cake. They offer  helicopter rides to and from the island. Naturally, arriving to the Island by Sea on a boat, the obvious way to return home would be by air, in a chopper. Although it’s a short 15 minute ride, its so much fun, and you feel like a superstar because of  how private it seems due to their 6 people capacity. So, until my next adventure there, these will be the memories I cling to till the great island of Santa Catalina  welcomes me back!

CAVE MODELING ACTION