Five Best Places I've Visited Archives

Jan 13th Five Best Places I’ve Visited #L&SR’s Blogging Challenge

Happy New Year! Welcome to #L&SR’s Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge January 13, 2021. Today’s topic is Five Best Places I’ve Visited. Wow what a coincidence. On January 19th , I’ll be posting Travel Tuesday a blog about my RV travels. Make sure and check back to see where I been and what I loved and didn’t. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice. Take your choice of a Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate and lets take a peek at Five Best Places I’ve Visited.

Okay, lets start with:

Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

Gates with Graceland in the background

Okay it’s no secret that I am a big fan of Elvis Presley as my mother was too. The gates Graceland really intrigued me. The #1 American attraction is just a road trip away. Well, for us a long road trip, but well worth it. Did you know they fry everything in Memphis? They even fried our dinner rolls when they ran out of cornbread. Wild huh? 120 acres dedicated to the life and career of an American legend, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. See the gold records, the jeweled jumpsuits, the classic cars and, now, all-new interactive exhibits that let you experience Elvis like never before.

Through the mansion tours, you will have the unique opportunity to walk in Elvis’ foot steps. I really loved this.

A visit to Graceland will leave you with a lifetime of memories. At least it did my family and I. We stayed in a great little campground not far from the mansion. It actually offered free rides to Graceland.

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky

Mammoth Cave

Its been several years since we explored Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest cave system on Earth, featuring the richest known habitat for cave wildlife in the world.

It may be difficult to think of caves as spacious and grand, but these are no ordinary caves. Humans first discovered this complex limestone labyrinth some 4,000 years ago beneath the Green River Valley of Edmonson County, Kentucky. To this day, explorers have yet to find an end to it, despite mapping more than 400 miles of passageways.

The last time we were there a boat tour was available through the cave.

Monterey Bay and Aquarium, California

Yellow Seahorse in habitat

Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened in October 1984. (It’s temporarily closed due to COVID19)

I could spend hours, days, weeks there. I love all the exhibits, there are three floors and always expanding over the years we’ve visited. Overlooking the bay from the observation deck at the aquarium you can see lots of ocean live frolicking in the waves. The whole area coast line is teaming with ocean wildlife, from the tide pools to the beaches and in between.

We stayed in Mari Dunes RV Park a wonderful campground near the beach and walked along the shore line every day of our visit. So much fun and great exercise. Yes dogs were allowed on the beach. Mystic chased the seagulls into the surf. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried to get salt water out of a chow chows long heavy fur. WOW!

Disney Land in California at Halloween! What a thrill.

Disneyland Park, originally Disneyland, is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, opened on July 17, 1955. It is the only theme park designed and built to completion under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. (Currently temp closed due to COVID)

Obviously, Disneyland is fun anytime, except when it’s really hot. But our visit during Halloween was a blast. Yep Halloween is my favorite holiday. The entire park was decorated for Halloween. There were trick or treat stations, haunted houses, pumpkin popcorn treats, and a fantastic fireworks show and parade. We stayed in a fantastic RV Park not far from Disneyland and road a bus the the amusement park everyday. Didn’t have to worry about parking or traffic. Perfect.

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon ancient look out

Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset. It’s been a long time since we’ve been there, and I couldn’t find my photos. That was before they were digital. In recent years, I have them all categorized on my computer for easy access.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave. Stay tuned! Chocolate Raspberry Magic release date been extended until April 2021. As I indicated, I’ve turned in the sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series to my editor at The Wild Rose Press and I have a Contract!! Now the edits to begin. Yippee! AND A new project is well underway Wylder West Assignment. Keep an eye out for more information. Now let’s see what the other author’s Five best places they visited. LOL L&SR

Oh, one mote thing. my book award winning HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC is nominated in the Annual Critters Readers Pole this year. I would greatly appreciate your VOTE in the category #Magical Realism Novel Here is the link! https://buff.ly/34Nb8se Thank you so much! Voting ends January 14, 2021.

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

A bit more about my 2020 award winner Hidden Gypsy Magic, available in digital, print or audiobook

The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.

The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.

Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs.

A peek between the pages of Hidden Gypsy Magic:

In the soft light he’d left on, he could just make out both pupils were the same size. He breathed a sigh of relief. I can rule out head injury, so far anyway. The bird toppled over hitting its injured side against the enclosure and screeched.

“Its okay girl,” he cooed. “No one is going to hurt you.”

Gwen sucked in a breath behind him. “What a beautiful bird. And huge.”

Only Gwen could see the beauty in the blood matted feathers of an injured owl. He shook his head. It was the reason he was drawn to her. There was no way he was going to let her get away.

“Never saw one up close before.” Her gaze was full of compassion and understanding as she turned to him. “You’re going to need a bigger enclosure. That one’s not even big enough for her to spread one good wing. She does have one good wing. Right?”