Goleta State Beach, Santa Barbara area north

This beach is only 10 minutes by bike on a bike path from our house. Surfing isn't great, but it happens occasionally. A slough, pronounced slue, comes in from our area and we can take out our kayaks depending on the tide. There's a great restaurant at the beach end of the pier aptly named Beachside. The University of California Santa Barbara is up the hill to the north. Students, local residents and visitors picnic, swim and play volleyball on this great stretch of beach. What a gift to have it and its wildlife, like this Great Blue Heron, as our neighbors.

Santa Barbara Zoo

The Glad Nomad and her partner live in Santa Barbara. We "winter" part of the year in Yuma, AZ. I posted so many blogs today because I was playing catch up after returning home. Santa Barbara, as most of you know, is well known for its Mediterranean climate. Today is the rainest we've had in our 11 weeks/11,000 mile trip from coast to coast and back. Hmmm, guess we need the wet stuff. Santa Barbara, similar to Santa Fe, deserves a series of blogs to cover some of its highlights. On this dreary day, the Glad Nomad will introduce you briefly to the Santa Barbara Zoo. Usually only large cities warrant zoos. Since SB defies the usual definition of "usual," there's a zoo...and a decent one at that. Here are a few critters you'll find ambling in this small animal oasis by the sea.

The Lushness of Tucson

Tucson has its own flavor. A desert oasis it experiences more rainfall than most in the Southwest. As a result, trees and plants flourish. Home of the saguaro cactus, there is much to engage the visitor in and around the city. Gratefully, the Glad Nomad has a few friends, one couple with whom she and her partner stay while in town. They live close to the mountains, so the photos were taken on a walk around their neighborhood. One of the highlights not to be missed is the Sonora Desert Museum to the west of the city. There you get a flavor of desert plant and wildlife.

El Morro, New Mexico

Another return visit was to El Morro, two hours from Albuquerque, about 1 hr. south of Gallup. We love the ambience of this area of New Mexico which honors the territory of the Navajos and is near Zuni land. There is also a wonderful wolf sanctuary not far from the El Morro National Historic Site. Friends told us about the El Morro RV Park and Campground. Small, but cozy, tent sites are $10/night. Last time we stayed in one their two comfortable cabins. The Ancient Way Cafe where you pay for the campground serves scrumptious breakfasts. We've missed it each time, but Fri and Sat nights they offer special dinners. A local group performs plays occasionally across the street and throw parties at times. The Cafe sells the work of local artists. Next door is a larger art and crafts store. Maqui and Standing Feather along with others are very welcoming. El Morro NHS offers an easy trail along a canyon wall to a pool used as an oasis by travelers crossing a girth of land with rare watering holes. There is also a primitive campground available near the Park. The area is well worth a visit.

Santa Fe Camping

Only a few miles from the city are two excellent camping alternatives: KOA and Rancheros de Santa Fe. The Glad Nomad has only used the latter campground. For $20/night, you receive an immaculate site, some with minor views, lots of privacy, water nearby. Our latest site had a metal shelter over the picnic table. Now that's luxury. A composting toilet is available close by. A few minutes walk will take you to the main bathrooms near the office where you'll find flush toilets, showers and a decent laundry. If you're inclined toward budget travel, these campgrounds are great. Yes, I'm budget conscious and also love to car camp. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. Keep an eye out for big events. We just squeezed in before the Balloon Festival crowd in Albuquerque. This fun fiesta mainly catered to RVs using the campground, but the tent campsites can get scarfed up pretty quickly, too.

Santa Fe Diversity

Santa Fe is a very diverse city. Native Americans, Hispanics and "Gringoes" live side by side with equanimity. The art scene flourishes on Canyon Road and in the various museums, such as the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and the Indian museums on Museum Hill. The Native Americans sell their beautiful jewelry in front of the Governor's Palace in the downtown plaza. There are Buddhist centers as well as a lovely Cathedral downtown. Now you can catch the train to Albuquerque from the Santa Fe Railyard. Santa Fe's history is rich and continues today as the capital city seeks to keep the old traditions alive.

Santa Fe Eats

The Glad Nomad lived in and around Santa Fe for four years. New Mexico is the "Land of Enchantment" and Santa Fe is it's central gem. The city has the cache of being an art center and home of alternative healers. The Southwest Native American culture is strong alongside a vibrant Hispanic community. Since there is so much to say, I'm going to do a short series of blogs on different aspects of Santa Fe richness.

Starting with eats...Santa Fe has a delicious plethora of restaurants. The India Palace on Cerrillos has a great lunch buffet. The Body on Cordoba Road is purely organic. Real Food Nation, pictured above, is a new addition with 80% organic with many greens grown on the property. Flying Star, also pictured above was born in Albuquerque and a new Santa Fe acquisition. Fresh pastries, soups and salads, it is located in the Santa Fe Rail Yard. The Upper Crust on Santa Fe Trail has been distinguished as the best pizza in Santa Fe 2009. Great Greek salads, too. Maria's and Tomasito's are tasty local Mexican food hotspots. You can't miss with all types of edibles. Ahhhh, if you want to go high end for a real treat - try Geronimo's on Canyon Road. Buen Provecho! Bon Appetit!

We're in Kansas again, Toto

Kansas is one of those states we usually travel through on our way to somewhere else. However, over 3 trips we have actually stopped at a little restaurant in Abilene called Joe Snuffy's Restaurant and Grill. Their breakfast is gooood...and the price of 2 eggs, toast, a good-sized slab of ham and hash browns is only $4.49. Abilene used to have the cheapest gas, but we spotted $2.15 gallon at Valero in Kansas City, Missouri. Eisenhower's presidential library is also in Abilene. Worth a look...and, well, the Truman Library in Independence, MO, is also an in-depth look at Truman's presidency. The photos are of Lawrence, KS, just outside Topeka, home of Kansas U. The historic downtown district is well appointed and was hopping with KU fans and their families. Ah, and there is a shop there called the NOMADS. No kidding...that got my vote along with a nice new bag to hold my computer on the road.

Land of Lincoln and Obama

A surprise on the streets of Springfield...a zoom zoom car show...we got out of town just in time
Law offices of Lincoln and Herndon
The old Capitol building still used for special occasions
Lincoln home parlor
Lincoln home

Springfield, IL, is a capitol city...not much buzz other than the interesting hoopla around and surrounding the Lincoln legacy. It was fun to visit his home (with Mary Todd) before he left for Washington, D.C. The National Park Service has done an excellent job of restoring and keeping up some of the neighborhood. A particularly fascinating tour of his law offices. The Old Capitol Bldg is right next door where Obama announced his candidacy, and then the Lincoln Museum and Library. The Lily Trout Cafe on 6th Ave. near the Old Capitol is a good place for a sandwich.

Cinn City, Ohio and Covington, KY

Had to taste Graefter's...the Cinn City's ice cream special
Historical Panels on the Covington side
The Amos Shinkle Townhouse B&B

The Cock and Bull English Pub, Mainstrasse, Covington...lovely restored district in Covington











Left to Right: Quilt piece at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cormorant Fisherman statue in Twin Lakes Park, Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River (precursor to the Brooklyn Bridge), Foyer of the Cinncinnati Art Museum and lunch in the CAM parking lot.




Nothing like a dose of rain to dampen the bliss of car camping. In Cinncinnati we decided to slip indoors, the first night to a rather undesirable downtown hotel (avoid the Quality Inn on 8th St.) and then to the opposite experience of a soulful B&B, the Amos Shinkle Townhouse B&B, on Garrard Street in Covington, KY. Having lived in Kentucky, I had passed through Cinn City and Covington many times traveling too and fro to the east. So, this trip afforded a delightful stopover. On opposite sides of the Ohio River, the two cities founded by German emigrants, were on opposite sides during the Civil War. The Ohio River was the divide between slave and free and the Underground Railroad was active in this area. Although there was no guarantee that by reaching the Ohio shore a slave was safe. Many moved north from there to Canada where they truly reached their freedom.