Diamond Head State Park, Hawaii

Climbing to the top of Diamond Head Crater is enough to make one smile

The moderate climb up the crater is less than a mile

For more information, visit: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/

Pensacola Dam, Langley, Oklahoma

The fact about this dam must be known and unfurled

It has been called the longest multiple-arch dam in the world

The Pensacola Dam has been on the National Register of Historic Places for several years. It was built between 1938-40 with Depression-era labor. GRDA does not say its the longest multiple arch dam in the world, though many other organizations in the past have used that language. LCRA's Buchanan Dam in Texas is longer. Pensacola is a mile-long, stretching across the Grand River Valley, comprised of 51 arches and houses six hydroelectric turbine units. It creates the 46,500 surface acre Grand Lake in NE Oklahoma. It was the state of Oklahoma's first hydroelectric facility and still operates today, just as its builders intended so many year ago.

For more information, visit: http://www.grda.com/electric/facilities/pensacola-dam/

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

This place is one that is a definite must see

Come view North America's most scenic parcels of wild country

Jackson Hole By the Numbers

 

Population

Town of Jackson: 10,135

Teton County: 22,268

 

Visitation (2010-2015)

Average Annual Visitation: 2,600,000

Average Visitation in January: 42,251

Annual Visitation in July: 666,610

 

Weather

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Average Snowfall: 459 inches 

Town of Jackson Average Snowfall: 74 inches

Average High in January: 27 oF / -3 oC

Average Low in January: 5 oF / -15 oC

Average High in July: 81oF / 27 oC

Average Low in July: 38oF / 3oC

 

Geography & Wildlife

Highest Point: Grand Teton, 13,775 feet above sea level

Teton County: 3,826,407 acres

Land Managed by Federal Government: 97% 

National Elk Refuge Wintering Herd: 6,000-7,000 elk

Common Wildlife: Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Wolves, Moose, Deer, Pronghorn Antelope 

The South, Middle, and Grand Teton were named by French trappers who gave them the nickname: “Les TroisTetons” or “The Three Breasts”

 

Federal Landholders 

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park

National Elk Refuge

Bridger-Teton National Forest

 

Jackson Highlights: 

Jackson Hole elected the first all-woman city government in America in 1920.

Wyoming was the first state in the nation to grant women the right to vote in 1869

First “Gigabiz” community in Wyoming with speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second

Movies filmed in Jackson Hole include Quentin Tarantino’s  “Django Unchained” and George Stevens’ “Shane.” It also stood in for Russia in “Rocky IV.”

Snow King Resort, was established in 1930 as the first ski area in Wyoming 

 

Q: WHERE AM I? JACKSON OR JACKSON HOLE?
A: Both. Jackson Hole is a valley about 80 miles long and 15 miles wide; Jackson is the major town within the valley. The hole begins six miles south of Yellowstone Park and tapers down to the width of the Snake River at Munger Mountain, south of Jackson. The town was named Jackson Hole in 1894 when the post office was established. Many other holes were named in the intermountain west during the 1800's but few were marked on the maps.

 

Jackson Hole Geography Narrative

 

Jackson Hole is a valley encompassed by mountains. The valley is 48 miles long and 8 to 15 miles wide, and the valley floor slopes from 6,779 feet above sea level in the north to about 6,069 feet at the southern end.

 

The Snake River, originating in the high country of Yellowstone, makes its meandering way through the valley, fed by streams and rivers, such as the Gros Ventre River and Flat Creek. Along the western side of the valley, the famous Teton Mountains rise into the sky, a sharp soaring of rock without the preamble of foothills to separate the massive mountains from the valley floor. Several lakes lie along the base of the range; among them is large Jackson Lake. Grand Teton, the tallest mountain in the range, is 13,772 feet above sea level, towering over Jenny Lake at its base. In the valley to the east, the Gros Ventre (Big Belly) Mountains roll up a little more gently from the valley floor.

 

Grand Teton National Park occupies most of the valley of Jackson Hole, preserving the towering peaks of the Teton Mountains and the beautiful glacial lakes. The native wildlife includes moose, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, grizzly and black bear, bison, and trumpeter swans. To the delight of the park's visitors, many of the large animals roam undisturbed across the valley floor, and numerous trails lead into the mountains to satisfy adventurers. Today the park includes 485 square miles or 310,000 acres.

 

The town of Jackson is located near the southern end of the valley, nestled between the Hoback Range, which contributes Snow King Mountain to the southern boundary of the valley, and East Gros Ventre Butte. The butte is one of several that punctuate the valley, varying the flatness of the Snake River plain with the rocky humps of ancient landforms.

 

Jackson is the seat of Teton County, which was created in 1921, more than thirty years after Wyoming became a state in 1890. As of 2010, Teton County had a year-round population of about 21,294, and Jackson had a population of 9,577. A number of temporary residents swell the population totals during the tourist seasons – in the summer months by 52,000 and by 5,000 in the winter months. The county has a large land area – 2,697,000 acres or 4,214 square miles. Nearly 97% of the county is public land.

 

With a great expanse of public land, including two national parks, tourism is the most important industry in the area. Grand Teton National Park lies in the heart of Jackson Hole, and Yellowstone National Park is only a few miles to the north. The town of Jackson serves as a gateway to both parks. Grand Teton National Park typically hosts between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 visitors each year. The total indicates the popularity of the area and the health of the industry. A few ranches remain in operation in the valley, reminding the residents of the area's original economic base. Many of the ranch operations, however, supplement their income with tourism, as guest ranches and headquarters for outfitting hunters and fishermen. 

 

 

Updated: October 9, 2015

For more information, visit: http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/

Photos courtesy of The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce

Lake Kissimmee State Park, Florida

For having loads of fun, this park has my approval stamp

You can see demonstrations of early Florida "cow hunters" in the 1876 Cow Camp

Florida's cowboy heritage comes alive with living history demonstrations of the early Florida "cow hunters" in an 1876-era cow camp. White-tailed deer, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, turkeys, and bobcats have been seen in the park, located on the shores of lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. Visitors enjoy boating, canoeing, and fishing in the picturesque lakes. Nature students can hike over 13 miles of trails to observe and study the abundant plant and animal life. Six miles of trails are open to equestrians. A large, shaded picnic area with pavilions is available. The park has full-facility campsites, as well as a primitive camping facility. The youth camping area can accommodate up to 50 people. The dark skies make stargazing a popular nighttime activity for campers. Located off State Road 60 15 miles east of Lake Wales. – Source: https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Lake-Kissimmee.

The park covers more than 5893 acres. There is very detailed information here: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/planning/parkplans/LakeKissimmeeStatePark.pdf

Photo credit: the Department of Environmental Protection

Photo credit: Carol Dunnigan

Cabot Creamery Visitors Center, Cabot, Vermont

The fact about this place must be unfurled

It is home to the best cheddar in the world

In 1919, farmers from the Cabot area figured that if they joined forces, they could turn their excess milk into butter and market it throughout New England. By 1960 Cabot was made up of 600 farm families, even while family farms were on the decline nationwide. Today, Cabot's future looks bright. Our company blends state-of-the-art facilities and a savvy entrepreneurial spirit, with the timeless values a personal commitment to quality that comes from being 100% owned by our farm families.​

For more information, visit: https://www.cabotcheese.coop/

Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona

While at this purplish place, if you decide to roam

See if you can spot any California condors that calls this 3,000 foot tall escarpment home

For more information, visit: http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/az/pdfs.Par.82720.File.dat/jr-ranger-vermilion.pdf

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/NLCS/VC_NM.html

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/natmon/vermilion/photos.html

Oregon Truffle Festival, Eugene, Oregon

Oregon Truffle Festival

01/29/2016 to 01/31/2016

Friday - Sunday

Location: Hilton Eugene & Conference Center, 66 E 6th Ave,
Eugene, OR, 97401

Contact: 503-296-5929, Info@OregonTruffleFestival.com

Admission: Varies

http://www.oregontrufflefestival.com/tickets/eugene/

Come January, you are invited to spend three weekends celebrating an exquisite, culinary favorite: the Oregon truffle. The Oregon Truffle Festival’s 11^th year kicks off with The Joriad 2^nd Annual North American Truffle Dog Championship in Eugene where spectators can cheer on teams as they race to search for hidden truffle-scented targets. The festival heads north for a Saturday evening dinner series at some of the region’s most notable restaurants. The event will close with a final weekend in Eugene that offers patrons three unique truffle experiences to choose from. Join this international event for truffle fanciers and experts featuring educational seminars, hands-on experiences and above all, celebration of the Oregon truffle!

OREGON TRUFFLE FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR THREE WEEKENDS IN ITS 11TH YEAR

The Popular Truffle Dog Championship JoriadTM Returns for a Second Year Along with New Dinners and a Special Newberg Truffle Marketplace at the
Chehalem Cultural Center

October 5, 2015 (Eugene, OR) – Tickets are now on sale for the 11th annual Oregon Truffle Festival which returns for three fungi-filled weekends this January beginning with the JoriadTM North American Truffle Dog Championship (January 16-17), moving to an exploration of the terroir of Yamhill Valley truffle and wine country (January 22-24), and concluding with the festival’s popular Eugene weekend of events to close out the festivities (January 29-31). Tickets are available at oregontrufflefestival.com.

Oregon’s agricultural bounty is gaining prominence worldwide. From our hazelnuts and our world-renowned wines to our award winning cheeses and truffles, Oregon’s most iconic ingredients are sought out by chefs and gourmands alike from around the globe. “The media spotlight on Oregon has never been stronger,” says Dr. Charles Lefevre, festival organizer, mycologist and founder of New World Truffieres, “...that attention that has helped elevate the status of the Willamette Valley to that of a world-class truffle region. Celebrating truffles gives us pride of place: not only for the truffles themselves but for the amazing array of Oregon ingredients that we are able to showcase alongside them throughout the festival.” The Oregon Truffle Festival has honored the cultural and culinary importance of native truffles for over a decade through a variety of sumptuous culinary events, tasting showcases, cooking classes, truffle demonstrations and educational seminars.

The 2016 festival welcomes a number of new and expanded experiences. The JoriadTM North American Truffle Dog Championship returns for the second year to commemorate both the festival kickoff and the official start to the truffle season with its ever-popular canine competition on Saturday, January 16th. The festival’s presenting winery sponsor Willamette Valley Vineyards will host the JoriadTM Awards Gala on Sunday, January 17th where guests can meet and greet with the JoriadTM finalists while enjoying small plates featuring Oregon black and white truffles paired with the best Willamette Valley Vineyards wines.

Additional epicurean adventures are in store January 22-24 for Newberg/Yahmill Valley weekend goers who can choose from one of two weekend ticket packages: The Terroir of Truffles or Bringing It Home. Guests won’t want to miss Shaved & Infused, Friday’s premiere tasting event at the Chehalem Cultural Center’s Grand Ballroom featuring Portland talents Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions and Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant. A la carte tickets are available for both the Newberg Fresh Truffle Marketplace (1/24) and the individual Black & White Dinners (1/23), a multi-course dinner series hosted by five of Yamhill Valley’s best restaurants that will highlight the best of Oregon’s black and white truffles.

The festival concludes January 29-31 in Eugene with its popular marquee events: The Grand Truffle Dinner (1/30), a six-course truffle-filled feast prepared by celebrated chefs with Oregon wine pairings; the internationally acclaimed Truffle Growers Forum (1/29-1/30), which brings together renowned truffle expertise to discuss recent developments across the industry; the Truffle Dog Training Seminar (1/29-1/30), the first event of its kind that gives participants a hands-on opportunity to train their canines to detect the scent of valuable ripe truffles in their natural habitat; the Eugene Fresh Truffle Marketplace (1/31), a unique tasting and demonstration experience that brings together fresh ripe Oregon truffles, regional wines, artisan foods, and craft products; and To Market, To Market: Celebrating Oregon’s Winter Bounty (1/29), a new walk around tasting event at Chef Stephanie Pearl Kimmel’s brand new Provisions Market Hall.

Additional festival details and participants will be announced throughout October.

Festival Lineup & Details

A complete list of events, participants, and ticket information can be found at oregontrufflefestival.com. Weekend packages are available for both the Newberg/Yamhill and Eugene weekends. Events and chefs will continue to be added through October.

Festival Sponsors & Partners

The Oregon Truffle festival is proud to have 1859 Magazine as its presenting media sponsor, the Chehalem Cultural Center as its Newberg/Yamhill host sponsor and the Hilton Eugene as its Eugene host sponsor. The festival is also generously supported by its presenting winery sponsors Willamette Valley Vineyards and Erath Winery. Additional winery luncheon sponsors include Argyle Winery, Brandborg Vineyard and Winery, Gran Moraine Winery, Iris Vineyards, Lady Hill Winery, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and Pfeiffer Vineyards. OTF is also proud to partner with Bolted Services, Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce, Cooks Pots & Tabletops, Travel Lane County, Hotel Rose Portland, James Beard Public Market, New World Truffieres, Travel Oregon, Travel Portland, Willamette Valley Visitors Association, Wine Country Cooking Studio, and Market Hall Foods.

About The Oregon Truffle Festival

The Oregon Truffle Festival is North America’s premier event for truffle culinary appreciation and education. Held every January, the festival attracts thousands of culinary tourists, growers, dog trainers, scientists, and media from all over the globe. The event was founded in 2006 by renowned mycologist Dr. Charles K. Lefevre and his wife, Leslie Scott. Today, the team is rounded out with culinary director Charles Ruff, who has been a part of the festival since its inception. Now in its 11th year, this dynamic and participatory truffle festival continues to innovate as it stays ahead of the industry growing around it. More info can be found at www.oregontrufflefestival.com or at www.facebook.com/oregontrufflefestival.

Media Contact:

Julia Raymond /julia.r.raymond@gmail.com /518.573.9850

Photos courtesy of The Oregon Truffle Festival 

Vicksburg National Cemetery, Vicksburg, Mississippi

About this cemetery, I have one thing to say

It is the second largest in the USA

For more information, visit: http://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/index.htm

West Wendover, Nevada

Coming here to see Wendover Will is pretty neat

He is the tallest mechanical cowboy at ninety feet

 

Wendover Will

Wendover Will is the world’s tallest mechanical cowboy at 90 feet in height and contains ¼ mile of neon lighting tube. Wendover Will came into existence in 1952 when he took the place of a tall pole mounted light, which was erected in the mid 1920’s by William “Bill” Smith, the original owner and founder of the State Line Cobblestone Service Station. This cobblestone service station welcomed weary travelers to the oasis of Wendover from the dry harsh conditions of the barren desert of western Utah and Nevada. In the mid 1930’s when gambling became legal in the State of Nevada. The cobblestone service station grew and became the State Line Hotel & Casino. A small and humble beginning to what you see in its place today, The Wendover Nugget Hotel and Casino.

 

Directions: Wendover Will is located at 1552 West Wendover Boulevard in the New City Center area.

For more information, visit: http://www.westwendovercity.com/visguide/tourism.php