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its-sheepe · 3 years

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Grumpus Horns: A More Detailed Look

Back when I first made this blog, I talked about my headcanons for the grumpus body (digestion, bones, reproduction, etc). One thing I glossed over was horns. In it, I stated that grumpus in prehistoric times used horns for fighting and mating, but over the years, they shrank due to not having a use for them. Nowadays, the only thing remaining of horns is a very small bulge in the skull.

As for horn snakification, I said that when the snakmatter finds its way into the leftover horn bone, it bursts out of the head resembling the eaten snak. However, when snakification wore off, the true horn would be revealed. I wanted to go into more detail about the true horn part. What kinds of horns would everyone get, and what would happen afterwards?

This is all speculation. Feel free to use it if you’d like!

Starting with Filbo, he would get goat horns, specifically the horns of a billy goat. Being the stereotypical goat type, it would make sense for the baseplate grumpus to have the baseplate horns.

Beffica would have the horns of a spiral-horned antelope. They would be a little shorter than average, kinda nubby.

Wambus would have the horns of a bighorn sheep. They would be absolutely massive, each covering the side of his head.

Gramble would have the horns of a texas longhorn. They’re so big he can barely walk!

Wiggle would not have horns, but rather ossicones. They are bony lumps on the skull found in giraffes. Ossicones would fit Wiggle due to her height.

Cromdo would have deer antlers. They would be rather large, as he always wanted to have big bucks.

Triffany would have triceratops horns to tie in with her archeology.

Snorpy would have ossicones as well, but his would be much taller than Wiggle’s.

Chandlo would have the horns of a buffalo, specifically the cape buffalo.

Shelda would have the horns of a horned screamer (it’s a bird). They are extremely fragile.

Floofty would have the horns of a jackson’s chameleon.

Now for how they would deal with them once they got back to the mainland.

Now as grumpuses haven’t had horns for years, they do their best to hide them when whenever the snakification wore off on them.

Filbo calls everyone up from Snaktooth to deal with their new horns. They all get together one night for a dehorning session. Wambus is the one that handles it under Gramble’s guidance (he can’t move much because of his huge horns). Filbo, Beffica, Wambus, Gramble, and Chandlo get dehorned that night.

Wiggle, Cromdo, Triffany, Snorpy, Shelda, and Floofty aren’t as lucky. Cromdo and Shelda’s shed, but they do grow back. Triffany and Floofty’s horns are growths on their skull, so it might be lethal to cut those off. Wiggle and Snorpy’s horns are covered by their skin, so it would require a doctor to remove them (which would expose their horns).

So they come up with a solution, sort of.

Wiggle and Snorpy grow out the hair on their heads; Wiggle starts wearing hats more often while Snorpy puts his up in buns.

Shelda and Cromdo get their horns cut shorter. Shelda grows out her hair while Cromdo starts wearing beanies (knit by Gramble)

As for Triffany and Floofty, they couldn’t do much. They lucked out on the size of their horns though, and were able to safely cover them up with their hair (but as they were pointy that had the pop a cork or something on them).

#bugsnax #ensamble #might draw this later

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harmonytre · 4 years

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Comic Plans

Current Projects:

Prismtale (Mondays): An Undertale AU involving NPCs and multiverse travelling. Multi-chapter comic and ongoing.

Mistbreak (Tuesdays): A Steven Universe AU with about 5 pages left of the comic. Then it will become an ask/drabble/design blog.

Flicker of a Neon Soul (Wednesdays): An Undertale AU where monsters have colored soul traits and humans have white soul traits. 10+ chaptered comic with many plans and plot.

Taffy and Steven (Thursdays): A Steven Universe where Steven and his gem are split into different people and Taffy is a wholesome boyo. One page left of the comic, then will become an ask/edit blog with occasional comics.

Future Fandom Projects:

Pokemon Nuzlocke Comics: Multiple regions and an overarching plot. I need to finish playing and writing the first arc before starting the comic. (long term)

Who I Am: A Pokemon comic where James from Team Rocket is a were-pokemon. I need to rewrite it first. About 7 to 8 chapters. (medium length)

Other Undertale AUs: Certain AUs will be revealed in Prismtale and turn into side blogs, and others will be one time comics. (varies)

Future Original Projects:

(One of these I want to make extremely interactive. Like the audience makes choices for the characters.)

Phantulfurs: A comic about teens with powers to see creatures no one else can. I’ve rewritten the first chapter multiple times, but I need to really write it out before starting the comic. About ten arcs. (long term)

Skryculars: A sequel to the above story. (medium length)

The Journeyers: A multi-book series with my cousin. About ten books. Involves animals, powers, and romance. Won’t give information beyond that. (long term)

Unnamed Animated Series: Still need to design the two main characters, but they’ll travel through many worlds from my dream world. (long term youtube series)

Unnamed Wings Story: Decided many many characters for a high school story with wings. Lots of diversity and LGBTQ. Problem is I don’t like writing high school stories and have no plot. ;^; (medium? short?)

Unnamed Long Term Comic: A story about a space girl with wings, a nonbinary person that can shapeshift and communicate with animals, twins with water and plant powers, and an angsty wholesome skeleton bean. No plot yet. (long term)

Short Term (below the cut, any catch your interest?)

(keep in mind many of these I wrote the descriptions for years ago or based off of dreams.)

“Orphan Dog” and “Martha’s Pack” An orphan finds out she can talk to dogs and realizes they are the key to finding her missing parents. (Wrote when I was 8, rewrote partially when I was 13. So very cheezy. Would be even cheezier if I didn’t rewrite it, but still drew quality serious art XD.)

“The Agency” A girl named Jill has secrets. Major secrets. For one, she can turn into any animal at will including extinct, Fantasy, or hybrids. Don’t forget that she can also turn invisible and do telepathy. (Not to mention she runs an entire secret animal spy community…) When her best friend and spy ally, Izabella the opossum, goes missing, she must find what it means to be a true friend and showing that it’s what’s inside that counts. (Actually liked this one too. Even if it’s also cheezy.)

1. “Moos” A boy is adopted by cows and is granted the power to understand animals and turn into a cow.

2. “Moos: Vile Meat” Hoover is back and he must defeat the evil Haystack, a human entrapping calfs in little domes for eternity.

3. “Moos: Cold Cuts” Hoover finds a new ally, one who creates...snow?

4. “Moos: Wakey Wakey Eggs and Bakey” Haystack is back and Hoover and his friends must defeat him before he turns all pigs into stone. (Cheezy series?)

“Extraordinaries” Emma, her friend, Millie, her brother, Clark, and her dog, Charlie, have to travel to a faraway land to save Emma’s mother, who has been poisoned. Along the way Emma and the team must find how to deal with their newfound powers of Imagination. (This one was also pretty good! A story from Nanowrimo a few years ago.)

“The Hummingbird Did It” A hummingbird turns a lazy boy into a dog. The boy must venture across country to find the cure. (Was kinda boring and just me having fun with google maps lol.)

“Sunshine and Rainbows” A girl is taken to another world by rainbow dust and must find her way back to Earth. (Can’t actually remember this one.)

“Nature’s Lifeforce” A boy and girl are given the power to turn into any woodland creature and talk to trees. (Also can’t remember, but sounds cool.)

“Ravens” A girl named Hannah, a boy named Billy, a boy named Cameron, a girl named Lyla, and a boy named Clark, among other students, have their wishes come true. This creates a problem as Cameron becomes a dog, Lyla becomes a cat and Hannah and Billy become ravens. They fix the problem for everyone except Hannah and Billy, but embark on an adventure to find the scientist who can help them. (Based on a dream, I think.)

“Dragon wings” Hiccup and Toothless accidentally sit down someplace weird. They switch bodies and Toothless claims to have heard someone press a button. (ASDFGHJKL WHAT?! HTTYD short story)

“Melody Dreambubble” A weird new pony arrives in Ponyville. Twilight is curious to find that she has no Cutie Mark, was raised by wolves, and bears mysterious powers. (My Little Pony, kinda self insert, short story)

“Eyes of Gold/The Tower” A Fan Fiction based on The Ever Afters series and two stories rolled into one. Rory finds that her two best friends have been poisoned by a new dragon species/As Rory is about to enter a tower to save Chase a random girl shows up out of nowhere and has a weird habit of annoying Adelaide. (Was my first ever self insert? And based on a book series unlike the rest? Cool! Oh I even wrote ten whole pages! Neat. Featuring a girl chasing a dragon with a bedpan!)

“Roadkill” A man purposely runs over a deer on a freeway. The deer’s best friend curses the man, later to regret it because he has to undo the curse himself. (Lol, this was interesting.)

“Melissa and Steven Started a Food Fight” A completely random book that takes the characters through an adventure of explosions, unicorns, and talking squirrels. (Used a random prompt generator. Very random. And funny.)

“Before it’s Gone” A snooty teen crashes in her car and finds a surprise when she wakes up. (Oh yeah, another old story. She turned into a dog and none of the other dogs believed her.)

“The Unicorn Killer” A short story about poachers and Julia. (Yep. Short story.)

1. “Feathers of Gold” A logical young bird griffin, Gabriel, wants to find a way to stop to war between bird and lion in his land, Genetica.

2. “Scales of Emerald” A shy young dragon, Emmie, tries to keep her land, Reptilia, from destruction.

3. “Hair of Crystal” A brave young unicorn, Crystal, tries to find a way to join together the leaders of the land of Equinsta.

4. “Flames of Ruby” A vain young phoenix, Flaxter, tries to capture the eyes of girls. Taken place in the land of Flamia.

5. “Gems Unite” Gabriel, Emmie, Crystal, and Flaxter find out they are The Gems, the only ones who can save their world, Animagicia, from the beings, called Humurns, that are trying to destroy it. They must come together and find who they truly are. (Might have fun with this series. I’ve always loved mythical animals.)

“The Distance from Sam” An 8 year-old St. Bernard named Barry, a 3 year-old Golden Retriever named Mick, and a 1 year-old Sheltie named Sandy set off to return to their owner Sam, after being kidnapped and sent across country. (Kinda like Homeward Bound. Came in mind when I saw these three dogs alone by a street, no humans around.)

“The Skilled” Andy and Ashley(both fifteen) and their eight year-old siblings, twins Alex and Alexa, gain powers from the sewers. All: understand animals and fly, Andy: talk to toys, Ashley: speak to plants, Alex and Alexa: psychic powers. “I used to think my toys would come to life when I was gone. I guess I was right.”-Andy. Based on a dream. (Too many “A” names, oof. Also, toy Story much?)

“The Moon’s Eye” A teenage girl named April gets trapped under a snow drift and wakes up to be a wolf. A nearby wolf pack needs her aid and calls her The Mooneye, a changeling. (Cool. Cool.)

“Unusual Forces of Omnipotence” A woman and her horse are supposedly crushed by a U.F.O. When Tanaya wakes up she finds out she has super strong senses and can run as fast as her horse. Pluto the alien knows he’s going to be in trouble if his planet finds out he crash landed and accidentally gave a human the powers of her horse. He tries to fix it. Told from Tanaya, Sunray (the horse), and Pluto’s point of view. Based on a dream. (Sounds interesting! Title came from before I knew UFO was an acronym lol.)

“The Lawn” Unknown to humans, a yard full of statues come alive at night. There is an elk, two bears, four buffalo, a wolf, an eagle, three horses, a small boy, a moose, a bighorn sheep, and a rabbit. (Based on a real lawn I’d see on the way to school.)

“Dragon Eyes” Max has an ordinary life, until his family, him, and his three friends, Alice, Peter, and Samuel, are transported to another world. His parents are then kidnapped and they have to fight against an evil Mother Nature. Based on a dream. (Interesting. The dream was freaky.)

“Sweet Treat” Emily’s dad works at a candy factory, and one day she visits him and realizes his work is not all it seems… Based on a dream. (What? I don’t remember what was different about his work???)

“The Flight of the Supernatural” Randy thinks he is mostly a normal kid. Sure, he and his dad live inside a mountain, and sure, some flying species of human killed his mother, that doesn’t mean he can’t live normal life homeschooling and watching TV. But unfortunately, Randy’s life turns around when he finds out he can fly. Is his father telling the truth? Did his own species kill his mother? Based on a dream. (Actually REALLY loved this story.)

“Whispering Willow” A girl named Willow helps 20 wolf cubs escape a pet store and then is recruited by a zoo. Pretty soon all of the animals know her as Whisper. Based on a dream. (Cool. another animal whisperer.)

“The Invasion of Our Minds” Little black aliens invade Earth and only one person can stop them: Julia. Based on a dream. (Oh RIGHT! Yeah I remember that.)

“The Marble Island(Possibly a short story?)” Julia goes on a trip to a new marble island only to find the owner turns people into stone figurines. Based on a dream. (Links to the previous story, I think.)

“Have some candy!” Violet, an expert on strange occurrences, needs to help a group of people who mysteriously turned into animals after attempting to grab candy bars from a bin in a local store. Based on a dream. (More animal transformation.)

“The Guide to Mythical Creatures I Made Up” A guide to everything from the Mystic Melody to the Gollan. (I don’t remember either of their designs! :P )

“Trying to Get Back to Mom” Michael and Annabelle meet new friends, while they frantically try to reunite with their mother. (Don’t remember.)

“Surprise of the Future” Pearl travels to the future and has to fight her now-evil brother in his stone mansion. (Not Pearl from SU. Based on a dream.)

“All for You” A man has to overcome many obstacles, such as mermaids, yellow smoke wolves, and magic maps, to save the world and his girl. (Oh yeah, this was a cool one. Based on a song, but I can’t remember which one.)

“The Stranger at the Door” Keith and Amber have lived with their grandmother for many years, but now they live alone and nobody knows. Then a strange girl arrives at the door. She claims they will have to leave town within 2 hours or risk being stuck in a quarantine zone. There will be traffic jams and other hindrances, so it's best to leave right now without taking anything with you. Unsure about everything, including this strange girl, the teenage boy disagrees to the proposal, if all this turns out to be true, this choice will seem foolish. His younger sister does agree. But what if this strange girl can't be trusted. Or what if all this is an elaborate trap. How could an ordinary teenage girl and boy end up in a situation like this. Time to find out. (Oh, a quarantine story? How long ago was this? 2017 I think.)

“The Beginning of the Hybrid Brothers” A backstory that shines a light on how Ralph the Rat-Man and Dr. Discord came to be evil. (YES, MY TWO VILLAINS NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT BUT ARE STILL DEAR TO MY HEART HNNNNNNNG.)

“Unnamed but same as the blank” A girl named, _____, lives in a family of nine. She and her mother are the only ones who aren’t “Morhumals”, or people who can turn into one animal. After the twins mess-up and send a “Morhumals” hunter after them, it is up to ___ and her sister, ____ to rescue them.

“Song of the Siren” ____ is back after her fourteenth birthday. She finally has received her animal and must follow her family to the mythed Siren hideout.

#story #comic #HarmonyTRE #comic plan

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acresforsale589 · 3 years

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Ranches In Western Montana

Hunting Land Near Bozeman To

Check allocations daily. As well as plan on bringing the meat homeit tastes similar to pork. Rate: $4,000 to $5,000 (Directed) W.B. For many seekers, a bighorn lamb tag is the Holy Grail. Donald M. Jones If you draw, you can tackle this adventure on your very own or hire an outfitter. In several trophy units, bulls racking up 380 B&C or far better are on a regular basis taken, including some over 400. Odds of attracting a trophy device are long, yet this 20-plus-point tag assures a muley dollar of a lifetime. You do not need to leave the Lower 48 to hunt a billy if you're relentless.

The initial bowhunters of Montana were the Native Americans. They proved the efficiency of archery tools by searching little as well as large game alike, from fish to bison. Numerous supporters for bowhunting have adhered to, principal among them the Montana Bowhunters Organization (MBA). The MBA has actually proactively advertised and also preserved archery opportunities because 1973. From the very early 1970s, when archery period was established at one week for elk and two weeks for deer, the MBA has headed boosted season lengths and also opportunities. We now have a six-week archery-only period and archery opportunities for elk, deer, antelope, moose, hill goat, bighorn sheep, bison, wolf, black bear, and also mountain lion.

The plants and also the woodland floor becomes clearer. You take a look at points a lot more closely. You're a lot more aware. You recognize the limited series of the bow is only 40 yards or so. You need to attempt to outwait that approaching deer. Mindful not to make the smallest movement or sound really hoping that your aroma will not all of a sudden waft his means. That's when you'll know for certain and also value deeply what bowhunting is everything about." Fred Bear "If asked to sketch a mental image of the regular archer I would be hard placed. They appear to find in all shapes, dimensions, shades and backgrounds.

Bozeman Ranches For Sale

Bozeman Ranches For Sale

We know the interests of hunters with specials needs that wish to join bowhunting. Therefore, we partnered with FWP to create the License To Change Archery Equipment (PTMAE). PTMAE was developed to suit hunters with disabilities as well as was based upon the recommendations of the Crossbow Archery Board, a constituent's team that included representatives from Access Montana Outdoors. The FWP Payment formally took on the PTMAE in February 2002. The MBA uses technical know-how as well as funding to any kind of seeker that calls for alteration to their bow. We have committed moneying to aid with the adjustment of acquiesce fit the particular needs of individuals.

The MBA wishes to function collaboratively with seekers to locate tailored options to enable their participation in bowhunting. This license enables an individual with a disability to utilize modified archery take on that supports the bow, and attracts, holds, as well as launches the string to fit the person's handicap. The license owner have to have a friend to assist in aspects of the hunt. The buddy might additionally assist the authorization owner by hunting (by the legal use archery devices just) a game pet that has actually been wounded by the license owner when the seeker with a handicap is not able to seek and also kill the injured animal.

To receive PTMAE, the applicantresident or nonresidentmust be licensed by a qualified medical professional (M.D. or D.O.) and have to satisfy at least one of the following medical problems: Amputation involving 4 fingers at the proximal interphalangeal joint, wrist, elbow joint or shoulder. Back cord injury at the degree of T-1 or above, causing irreversible impairment of a minimum of 80% to a hand, wrist, arm or shoulder. Muscle weakness resulting in a long-term special needs of the muscular tissues of the shoulder, arm as well as back utilized in attracting and holding a bow. Damaged series of activity of the shoulder, elbow or wrist that would certainly restrict the applicant from elevating and also holding a bow in the horizontal position.

Bozeman Ranches For Sale

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( See application for certain information). Mon, TECH is concentrated on raising outdoor recreation chances for Montanans with impairments and those that experience constraints via aging in a variety of ways. Initially, Mon, TECHNOLOGY aids Montanans take part in wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, and various other associated tasks, such as camping and walking, by providing a devices collection that has a look at assistive modern technology to assist in the pursuit of these activities. This equipment collection was originally implemented by the Montana Gain Access To To Exterior Entertainment task. Call: 877-243-5511 Draw-Loc allows the hunter to easily attract the bow and also holds an arrow at full draw up until the hunter prepares to shoot.

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theribbajack · 5 years

Photo

Inktober Day 4: Rocky Mountain Billyhorn

Billyhorns, sometimes shortened to ‘billies’ to prevent confusion with their cousins the bighorners, are a common sight leaping from crag to crag in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Their thick wool is popular among rangers in the winter, and local tribes suggest that a knife made from a billy’s third horn will always strike true.

#its the goat #my art #inktober #fallout: shenandoah #animals #billyhorn #mountain goat #fallout #inktober 2019

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goalhofer · 7 years

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2017 FIBA AmeriCup U.S.A. Roster

Guards

#4 Kendall Marshall (Reno Bighorns/Arlington, Virginia)

#5 Billy Baron (Eskisehir Sepet/Worcester, Massachusetts)

#6 Larry Drew; Jr. (Sioux Falls Skyforce/Woodland Hills, California)

#8 Wendell Williams; Jr. (Texas Legends/Fayetteville, North Carolina)

#9 Xavier Munford (Greensboro Swarm/Newark, New Jersey)

#10 Reggie Hearn (Reno Bighorns/Ft. Wayne, Indiana)

Centers

#11 Marshall Plumlee (New York Knicks/Arden, North Carolina)

#15 Alec Brown (Club Estudiantes S.A.D./Winona, Minnesota)

Forwards

#7 Reggie Williams II (Oklahoma City Blue/Prince George, Virginia)

#12 Darrun Hilliard; Jr. (Detroit Pistons/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

#13 Jameel Warney (Texas Legends/Roselle, New Jersey)

#14 Jonathan Holmes (Canton Charge/San Antonio, Texas)

Coaches

Head coach Jeff Van Gundy (Brockport, New York)

Assistant coach Tyrone Ellis (Northern Arizona Suns/Dallas, Texas)

Assistant coach Mo McHone (Sioux Falls Skyforce/Tallahassee, Florida)

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dr3adsoul · 7 years

Video

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The Cowboy’s Christmas Ball

Way out in Old Nevada, where the Truckee's waters flow, Where the cattle are "a-browzin'" an' the Spanish ponies grow; Where the Northers "come a-whistlin'" from beyond the Neutral Strip; And the prairie dogs are sneezin', as if they had "The Grip"; Where the coyotes come a-howlin' 'round the ranches after dark, And the bluebirds are a-singin' to the lovely "meadow lark"; Where the bighorns are a-grazin' and the lonely plovers call — It was there that I attended "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball." (whoo!) The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles; The ladies — "kinda scatterin'" — had gathered in for miles.. The room was togged out gorgeous - with mistletoe and shawls, And candles flickered frescoes, around the airy walls. The women folk looked lovely - the boys looked kinda treed, Till the leader got to yellin': "Hey, fellers, let's stampede!" And the music started sighin', an' awailin' through the hall As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball." Their leader was a feller that came from Swenson's ranch, They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Deadman's Branch." His rig was "kinda careless," big spurs and high-heeled boots; He had the reputation that come when "a fellers shoots." His voice was like a bugle upon a mountainous height; His feet were animated an' a mighty, movin' sight, When he commenced to hollerin', "Now, fellers stake your pen!" "Lock horns with all them heifers, an' russle 'em like men. "Salute yer lovely critters; now swing an' let 'em go, "Climb the grape vine 'round 'em — all hands do-ce-do! "You Mavericks, join the round-up - Just skip her waterfall," Huh! It was gettin' happy, The Cowboys' Christmas Ball Don't tell me 'bout cotillions, or Germans, no sir'ee! That whirl at Carson City just takes the cake with me. I'm sick of lazy shufflin's, of them I've had my fill, Just Give me a frontier break-down, backed up by Wild Ol' Bill. McAllister ain't nowhere, when Windy leads the show, I've seen 'em both in harness, and so I sorta know — Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget ya, and I'll oftentimes recall, That lively gaited soiree — "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball." Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget ya, and I'll oftentimes recall, That lively gaited soiree — "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."

#TheCowboy'sChristmasBall #TheKillers

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wikitopx · 5 years

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Phoenix's warm, dry climate attracts sun-lovers and those looking to escape the snow and cold during the winter months.

The city offers abundant arts and cultural attractions, historic neighborhoods, as well as shopping, dining, and an outstanding selection of resorts and hotels. Many people come here simply to enjoy the outdoors. Golfing is one of the top things to do in Phoenix, but you'll also find opportunities for hiking, biking, and climbing.

1. Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instruments Museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world, with a collection of more than 6,800 instruments from almost 200 countries and territories. Housed in a spectacular building are five permanent galleries, including the Geographic Gallery; the Artists Gallery; the Mechanical Music Gallery; the STEM Gallery; and the Experience Gallery, where you can play some of the instruments. You can also see master craftsmen at work restoring instruments in the Conservation Lab.

The museum hosts special traveling exhibits and has a variety of Signature Events, showcasing instruments and live music from countries around the world. Catch a concert in the facility's 300-seat theater.

2. Taliesin West

Located in Scottsdale, Taliesin West was the winter home and architecture school of the celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, the facility is now the international headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the home of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

Even if you have only the smallest interest in architecture, this is a worthwhile addition to your Phoenix itinerary. The tours offer detailed information on the architecture, the school, and Wright's life.

The buildings here were constructed out of native materials, such as rubblestone and redwood, and built entirely by Wright and his apprentices from 1937 to 1959. Taliesin is still a working school of architecture, and you will see students at work in the main drafting studio.

3. Desert Botanical Garden

Located in Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden is a beautiful complex that combines art and nature. Art installations dot the gardens, adding another dimension to this beautiful space.

The 140-acre complex is home to tens of thousands of plants, and displays examples of vegetation from deserts around the world. This is also a good place to spot hummingbirds and butterflies, with designated gardens designed to attract these creatures.

Extensive trails wind their way around the property, and visitors should plan on spending a significant amount of time walking. The spring is a particularly good time to visit as the plants come to life and bloom in an array of colors.

4. Heard Museum

The renowned Heard Museum in Phoenix, dating from 1929, is devoted to the art and culture of the Indian peoples of the Southwest, with displays of basketwork, pottery, jewelry, textiles, and a large collection of kachina dolls.

Outside, visitors can wander through the outdoor sculpture garden or take a garden tour of the museum. The museum also has a very pleasant outdoor café with courtyard seating and a menu that changes regularly and features special dishes to complement the featured exhibit.

5. Hiking Trails around Phoenix

Looking for something to do outdoors? A walk through the desert is always a pleasant way to spend a morning or a day, and Phoenix offers a full-range of hiking trails for all levels of hikers.

At one extreme, you'll find trails for the adventurous hikers, like the hike up Camelback Mountain, and at the other end of the spectrum are short, easy trails, perfect for birders and nature lovers. You'll find some of these at Papago Park or the Lost Dog Wash Trailhead. Somewhere in between these are Mormon Trail and Pinnacle Peak, which offer a bit of a challenge and elevation, along with beautiful views. For a more comprehensive look, see our list of the top hikes in the Phoenix area to plan your outing.

6. Old Town Scottsdale

Fun and quirky is a popular description of Old Town Scottsdale. Unique shops housed in buildings with Western-style covered walkways sell a variety of trinkets and other goods, primarily aimed at tourists. Just up the street from the kitschy shops are some of the city's finest galleries. Featuring spectacular work by famous artists, this is a fun place to window shop.

Old Town also has a good selection of restaurants, some with delightful patio seating, perfect for people watching. The area is easily walkable and can be found at the intersection of East Main Street and North Scottsdale Road. A fun way to tour the area and see the sites is on a two-hour Scottsdale Segway Tour. This will take you along the waterfront, past some of the historic sites, and through Old Town.

7. Hall of Flame Fire Museum

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum, which also sponsors the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, is both a historical look at the profession and a tribute to firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty, or noted for their heroism. On display at the museum are exhibits dating back to 1725, including old fire engines and some very curious types of fire extinguishers. While most of the focus is on the history of firefighting in America, there are also exhibits from Europe and Japan, offering a more international perspective on the profession.

The National Firefighting Hall of Heroes displays the names of those killed since 1981. There is also a memorial to the firefighters and police officers killed at the World Trade Center in 2001.

8. Papago Park

Papago Park is a wonderful natural area right in the city, where you can enjoy hiking along nature trails, scrambling up the red rocks that dominate the park, cycling, and golfing. This is a popular place to come for a walk, particularly in the morning before the heat of the day.

The park has a multitude of trails, but the two most popular are the Elliot Ramada and the Double Butte Loop trail. Both these trails take you up to the weird rock outcroppings that are a key feature of the park. You can sometimes see wildlife, primarily rabbits but occasionally bighorn sheep.

Also located in Papago Park are the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.

9. Phoenix Art Museum

The Phoenix Art Museum has a collection covering the art of the European Renaissance and Baroque period, the Far East, and the American West. The museum also presents modern and contemporary works, fashion design, live performances, and films. The stunning exhibitions bring masterpieces from around the globe to your own backyard.

The classically progressive look of its 203,000-square-foot building is a work of art in itself. Designed by New York architects Tod Williams/Billie Tsien & Associates in the mid 1990s and expanded by them in 2006, it integrates art and architecture with the southwestern landscape.

10. Phoenix Zoo

While the Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,400 animals, including numerous endangered species, it's famed for its Sumatran tigers and orangutans. The four different trails leading through the facility are the Africa Trail, Tropics Trail, Arizona Trail, and Children's Trail. The zoo also offers children's programs and events, splash pads, and play areas.

Animal encounters are a special part of any visit and include the Monkey Village, where you walk in an open exhibit with monkeys swinging by. The Red Barn is a petting zoo with goats, sheep, and horses. Other experiences include the gentle giraffe encounter, Stingray Bay encounter, and the ever popular camel rides.

The zoo also has a 4D theater, which allows you to fully experience the film with water, smells, and wind effects. This is a great indoor option when the temperature outside is uncomfortably hot.

Here are a few more ideas for what to do in the area: Top 10 things to do in KC

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-mesa-az-702276.html

#Wikitopx #Wikitopx - Feed

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mandygilberton · 6 years

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The Agency's January Hotlist

New headlines for a New Year. With 2019 in full swing, our properties, places and faces continue to make waves and garner their fair share of media attention. From celebrity homes to new resort destinations, enjoy The Agency’s January Hotlist—hot off the press. BILLY ROSE → The Wall Street Journal called on The Agency Founder and President Billy Rose for his insights in their recent piece, “The Top 10 Upgrades to Sell Your Home for Top Dollar.” Among the most coveted home features in luxury listings are retractable glass walls. “When clients talk about ‘bright,’ they are talking about big windows and sliding glass walls that open to the inside,” Billy explained. Read more about luxury home must-haves here. ONE&ONLY MANDARINA PRIVATE HOMES → Topping the list of Ocean Home Magazine’s real estate and resorts list was One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, one of the world’s first collection of One&Only villas to own in the world. The magazine showcased the four-, five- and eight-bedroom villas, innovative architecture and unprecedented amenities residents will enjoy, including a signature One&Only spa, multiple beach clubs, a polo and equestrian club and authentic farm-to-table restaurant. 9927 GIFFIN COURT → When Shaquille O’Neal’s lakeside mansion hit the market in Florida, Access Hollywood, Business Insider, Architectural Digest, Mansion Global, People and CNBC took notice, showcasing the 12-bedroom, 35,000-square-foot house, which sits on three acres in the exclusive, gated golf community of Isleworth. Represented by The Agency’s Chris Franciosa, Jared Ringel and Dustin Fealy, the home boasts a 17-car, “showroom-style” garage, 6,000-square-foot basketball court and 95-foot swimming pool. 530 S. WESTGATE AVENUE → Another celebrity owned residence capturing the attention of Mansion Global was the stunning Cape Cod-style Brentwood home of Formula One racer Jenson Button. Represented by Cindy Ambuehl, the extremely private estate was built in 1959 and exquisitely remodeled in 2015. It features five bedrooms, seven baths, vaulted ceilings, crown moldings and an open floor plan ideal for entertaining. TRACY MCLAUGHLIN → The Agency’s announcement that one of the country’s top brokers would lead the company’s third Northern California office made waves across the industry. Tracy McLaughlin, who is managing the Marin office, is the highest-producing real estate agent in Marin County, a distinction she’s held since 2005—a national record for any county in the country. Among those featuring the news were San Francisco Business Times, Inman and Marin Independent Journal. WEINTRAUB ESTATE → JustLuxe featured what it calls one of Palm Desert’s “most exceptional estates,” the home of Hollywood Legend Jerry Weintraub. Designed by architect Guy Drier, the sculpted architectural home is situated within the exclusive Bighorn Country Club and looks as though “it emerged from the nearby mountains.” Represented by Richard Bartholomew, David Findley and Mauricio Umansky, the contemporary masterpiece boasts five bedrooms, a separate casita, two pools, media rom, London-style pub, gym and office. 9361 FARRALONE AVE → The one-time home of Frank Sinatra, L.A.’s iconic Byrdview House is a Hollywood mainstay, which would explain why its market debut captured headlines in Architectural Digest, Town & Country, People.com and the U.K.’s Evening Standard. The sprawling midcentury modern estate, represented by Craig Knizek and Barrie Livingstone, was once featured on Mad Men and was the location of Judy Garland’s vow renewal. Located minutes from Calabasas and Hidden Hills, the seven-bedroom estate sits atop a private promontory above the Chatsworth Reservoir nature preserve, featuring panoramic views of the surrounding valley and mountains. The Agency's January Hotlist published first on https://theopuscondo.tumblr.com/

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bigjohnsadventuresintravel · 6 years

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A Glimpse into the Enchanted Land of New Mexico

There’s this guy I know who is a collosal dreamer. There’s really nothing wrong with associating yourself with people like that; unless perhaps you’re intent on surrounding yourself with only the more well-grounded, mundane types. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t recommend engaging this guy in anything more than casual conversation. I let my guard down just once around him and he had me nearly convinced he knew the whereabouts of some hidden treasure chest worth millions. Had I possessed anything less than the most superb rational mind, I would’ve packed my suitcase that very moment, grabbed my fedora and compass, and booked the very first flight to New Mexico.

Well, the last I spoke to this adventurous fellow, he had descrambled a bunch of secret passages in some old man’s book, purchased a flight to Albuquerque, and turned an entire wilderness area north of Santa Fe completely upside down. Unfortunately, the treasure had eluded him just like the thousands of others before. Suprisingly though, his failed expedition left him completely undaunted. He actually seemed assured that he was closer now to finding it than ever before. He told me he had simply strayed off course due to a matter of simple semantics and was planning to pick up the trail again in the coming months. I told him he should quit chasing waterfalls and come back down to level ground. He just sort of smirked at me and walked away. That’s how this guy is. He’s quite the character!

Anyway, not long after that peculiar encounter, I happened to visit the Land of Enchantment myself. Now don’t go spreading any rumors here. I wasn’t there trying to find any 11th century treasure chest full of precious gems and golden nuggets. I was simply there to get some tasty New Mexican cuisine. I heard the green and red chili toppings were to die for. Since my wife, my son, and my friend were also feeling hungry, they came along for the ride. We had quite the adventure and before departing our 47th state, the beauty of New Mexico had us all a bit entranced.

Big John and team follow the old cattle trails to a mesa top with a view.

My son, Jonah, on a dusty trail west of Cimarron.

It was in a charred forest not too far from here where Smokey the Bear was rescued as a cub.

Big John and Mr. Ford taking in the crisp mountain air while admiring God’s handiwork.

Not only does New Mexico possess a diverse and magnificent landscape, the state has some of the most colorful history in in all of our country. From Spanish Conquistadors, Apache Indians, outlaw gangs, to rough-and-tumble mountaineers on the Old Santa Fe Trail, this place is teeming with its legends and lore.

A plaque adorns the wall of this old Santa Fe jail cell that allegedly housed Billy the Kidd.

Famous rustlers and outlaws such as the Dalton Gang, Butch Cassidy, and Billy the Kidd once called New Mexico their home.

The San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe, built in 1610, is the oldest surviving church in the United States.

Jonah, Big John, and the lovely Miss Rebecca all pose in front of this grand old church.

With centuries of worshipers, could you imagine the stories told if these walls could talk?

Reminds me of a famous book entitled “For Whom the Bell Tolls”.

I can easily count two of my blessings inside the confines of these church walls.

Just outside the doors of the oldest church in America rests the oldest house in the country as well. The De Vargas Street House began as the foundation of an ancient Indian pueblo built around 1200 A.D.

The De Vargas Street House is the oldest house in Santa Fe and America.

The original builders of this adobe style hearth probably had to wait just a little while before the invention of microwave popcorn came around.

Jonah seemed quite surprised when I informed him that the house was even older than me.

The Pueblo architecture found throughout Santa Fe and the rest of New Mexico offers some insight into the state’s earliest inhabitants.

La Fonda on the Plaza is just one of Santa Fe’s luxury hotels offering an authentic Southwestern experience.

Built in 1931, the Lensic Theater is still operational, adding to Santa Fe’s old-style charm.

This beautiful church, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, is another much celebrated landmark of Santa Fe.

One can’t help but admire the artistry in these beautifully crafted cathedral doors.

The Palace of the Governors has been a vital part of Santa Fe’s history since around 1610.

Since the time of its construction, the Palace of the Governors has flown three different flags: The Spanish, the Mexican, and finally the American.

The palace is now a great place to find local artisans peddling their wares through the Native American Vendor Program.

With over 240 amazing art galleries in town, visitors easily discover why Santa Fe is the art mecca of the Southwest.

New Mexico is the home of numerous Native American tribes, to include the Navaho, Tewa, Ute, Pueblo, Pecos, Apache, and many more.

Many of these galleries offer not only the amazing opportunity to appreciate creative expression; they also allow visitors to witness real pieces of history and culture on display.

Eagle and Indian sculpture outside of Mountain Trails Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.

Chili Peppers are the flavor of the day when at the plaza in Santa Fe.

New Mexico’s big game species include deer, elk, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope, Barbary sheep, bighorn sheep, and more.

The Palisades Sill is a popular natural landmark located on the Cimarron River canyon between Eagle Nest and Cimarron in the northern part of the state. It can be seen in the eastern part of Cimarron Canyon State Park.

One of the best places to eat in all of New Mexico can be found in Taos. Bella’s Mexican Grill provides a beautiful, comfortable venue with a patio serving modern spins on traditional Mexican cuisine. The fish tacos & tortilla soup comes highly recommended!

New Mexico is arguably the best state in the country to embark on a road trip through one of nature’s most diverse landscapes.

Constructed in 1793, the San Felipe de Neri Parish is the oldest church in Albuquerque.

I didn’t dare make any eye contact. These Abuquerque desperados were just itchin’ for a fight!

There’s always something festive happening in Old Town, Albuquerque!

Literally every place in New Mexico is like visiting a fountain of youth. These places won’t actually make you any younger, but many are so old that you will just naturally feel much younger by comparison. This restaurant, La Placita, has been serving up dishes since 1788. Yeah, they must be doing something right!

Did I mention that Albuquerque was named the low-rider capital of the world?

Where’s Waldo?

The Kimo Theater, another historic Albuquerque landmark, rests just a stone’s throw away from that historic Route 66.

After touring Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque, we decided to break from the hustle and bustle and get back into the wonders of God’s creation.

Rebecca and Jonah briefly halt for a snapshot before disappearing in the slot canyons of Kashu-Katuwe.

Kasha-Katuwe, meaning “white cliffs” is a national park near Santa Fe famous for its tent-rock formations and slot canyons.

Over the span of time, weathering and erosion has created these magnificent canyons and tent rocks. The tent rocks themselves are cones formed of soft pumice and tuff buried beneath harder caprocks. They vary in height from a few feet and upwards of ninety feet.

Jonah tries to find a bit of shade under the exposed trunk of this tree. Man, is it starting to get hot!

There she is! My one and only!

These layers of rock show evidence of weathering throughout the years.

What’s that pretty girl looking at?

She must be up to something!

I think I’ll follow her!

She’s always one step ahead of me.

I tried stalking her from above but I’m almost certain she’s spotted me!

I love all of the cacti and other desert plant life. Just keep those rattlers away!

It’s becoming a tight squeeze through these canyon walls. Even Jonah is walking sideways!

Jonah is able to capture some fantastic photos to share on his Facebook page!

Squeezing through these cramped passages, I could only hope that all of these rocks had already fallen.

My wife and son lead the way as we hike through the canyon and up to the top.

…and that, folks, is why they are are called “tent-rocks”!

Sometimes my smartphone camera just doesn’t do the scenery any justice.

It’s almost hard to believe these formations weren’t man-made.

I wonder if anybody’s ever pulled out their swiss-army knife and set about carving themselves a home? I imagine, if there’s a Walmart nearby, that a guy could live fairly well in one of these pointy rocks. Although, I would recommend picking up a few other essentials like an air mattress, water, and lots of trail mix and beef jerky.

I don’t know why this cacti plant fascinated me so much. It just sort of looked like some alien lifeform. Yeah, I think the heat was getting to me.

This reminds me of the desert scene from Young Guns. (For all you too young to know anything, that was a hit movie in 1988 starring Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez).

With our very lovely guide leading the way, Jonah and I made it all the way to the top!

What can I say? She likes to live dangerously.

She was playing hard to get, but now she’s letting me get the gain on her.

Later on, I tried to get her to explore this cave with me. She didn’t really go for that idea.

As you can see, we had an amazing time in New Mexico. Thank you for visiting my page and I hope this site inspires you to pack those suitcases and make some of your own adventures.

Please feel free to explore other areas of Big John’s Adventures in Travel and show me a little love on social media. Come back soon.

Happy travels,

Big John

#Kasha-Katuwe #New Mexico #Tent Rocks National Monument

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andrea-cristina-travel-blog · 7 years

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Traveling Freestyle On The Open Roads Of America

I love decadent resorts. And if you know me, I feel the same about lavish cruises … In fact, I daresay they can be run-of-the-mill and I’ll STILL find ample reasons to like them. To me, travel is one of the greatest gifts of life. Something as simple as changing one’s geography, view and perspective can sow the seeds of learning and change. Essentially, to travel is to grow. And there are just so many different experiences and approaches to travel, there is really just no good reason to stop. Ever. And while there are few substitutes for the replenish and calm one gets from a week or two of doing nothing but pampering oneself, dining and letting troubles melt away into a sea of infinite calm (the kind of experience one might have at a four or five-star tropical escape) … there are other ways to recharge, revitalize and renew. One of those ways, we call, “Travel al Dente.” TAD can be done creatively. It can be a spur of the moment road trip. It could be pursued in tents. It can be enjoyed in odd urban sites or in areas so remote that they’ll confuse your GPS. Or you can even approach it without GPS (Though, it probably doesn’t hurt to have some tech available in case of emergency.) The goal here is to have an experience that brings you closer to the world around you. One that calms you, not because you are cosseted in lavish surroundings, but because it allows you to let go of your regular daily rigors and monotony by forcing you to be completely engaged in something else entirely. Look, nobody here is going to compare the quality of one vacation escape or engagement type to another or lend an arbitrary value judgement based on personal preference. In fact, I love each type of escape in its own way. I just see many (including myself), often because of limited time or know how, doing more of the resort or cruisy thing, and overlooking the joyous sensory overload of an experience al dente. Think about it this way. When one literally cooks al dente, the food is a bit firmer and much of the time, finds their meal requires a bit more effort to chew. But, the food itself is also enhanced. It is even MORE nutritious. The colors are brighter and ultimately, al dente food better for your body and mind. I am NOT advocating giving up pizza. Cook the heck out of it and I’m in. It’s just that I am just not writing about great pizza today. Rather, I am writing about a preparation style that requires the experience itself to be a bit less boiled down. Today, I am sitting at my desk at one of the largest travel companies in the world. We put together amazing trips and travel opportunities across the globe. We do it for individuals, members, companies – in fact, you wouldn’t believe how much of the travel that goes on in the world is touched by us in some form or fashion. Virtually everybody who works with me here loves people, loves vacations and probably with no exceptions, we love new ideas about taking trips. That, is today. I should tell you, however, that less than two weeks ago, I was in a late model Toyota Tacoma, one taillight out, driven by a guy named James. I had met James just three minutes earlier. He lives in a Fleetwood Bounder RV in Torrey, Utah. His Tacoma tires were kicking up the local red dust from the soil as he, for no reason other than his sense of humanity and good humor, was running me into the next town to a gas station that carried transmission fluid. Yep, my RV, a Fleetwood Southwind Storm was having transmission problems. Maybe a drink of some new fluid would get me going – at least far enough to get to a town with an actual repair shop (not one with a broken, hand-painted sign fastened onto a post by a guy named Mike who wasn’t “too keen on helping out until Tuesday or so.” See, hand-painted sign repairman Mike was, “into some other things right now.” I am not going to lie, I was stressed. My wife was there stranded; my four kids were there stranded. No cabs. No busses. No train station. Nada. Our RV was cracked down in a place that was so off-the-grid that the middle of nowhere was a few miles closer to civilization than were we. What’s more. When I did put in the transmission fluid – it didn’t work. Like Ren and Stimpy, we were MAROONED!!! (And I know most of you will likely miss that reference, but hey, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good one. Besides, in the days of Google, you can look anything up – hint, hint.) Okay, I am not going to belabor the RV crackdown. It was on the last leg of a truly amazing journey and in part, it was my fault. Why it happened or even that it happened is not critically important. What is important is that I learned and won’t be so foolish again … and that my kids learned that every problem has a solution if you keep your wits and stay positive. But even this realization is NOT WHY I am writing this little blog story. Nope. What its really about is … Heartbeat. It’s about the unmistakable, strong heartbeat I felt throughout our al dente journey. It was swimming in Glacier National Park’s Lake McDonald. I am telling you, it is a magical place. The lake water is so clear you can open your eyes underwater and seemingly see forever. We were also about 80 yards from some bighorn sheep, too. There was no zoo. They could have horned us, or rammed us, or whatever it is they do with those attached shofars of theirs. We saw Billie Goats munching on wildflowers and my elder daughter (age 15) was singled out for an intense one-on-one conversation by a yellow-bellied marmot (No shame in this guy’s game. Not sure what it was, but he had a very important message to relay to her). The moment was epically hysterical. Did you know that in July in Montana there’s sunlight until after 11pm? I didn’t either. I mean, I knew the days were long in Alaska in the summer and that their winter’s days were notoriously dark … but there’s just things you get from al dente travel that mean so much. There we were. The campsite in Glacier. A much appreciated success after missing out on a site the night before because we were newbies and got hornswoggled by campsite reserving technique pros (another lesson). My son Aiden (age 14) was doing his “Ahhhnold” impersonation by campfire. It was well after ten o’clock – at night. Still light out, mind yout. We were laughing hysterically – our nine-year-old daughter was out of her mind – the clear result of doubling down on double stuffed s’mores amplified by a prodigious lack of sleep (those long days get you amped, I tell you). Admittedly, we also knew that we were likely annoying the group of strapping young University of Kansas guys camping nearby who, much to the liking of my fifteen-year-old daughter, seemed to be obsessed with changing their t-shirts 5-6 times a day. (Your guess is as good as mine.) Nevertheless, Aiden was on point. He was even lacing in four-letter words to enhance his act. All fair game under the towering pines of Glacier in the glow of campfire embers and bellies full of stick-broiled hot dogs, marshmallows, chocolate and grahams. Some other notable sights, moments, and thoughts from our journey (and these are mine though some may have been discussed with my wife and kids.) And that’s the thing, I am sure we ALL have our own list – with only instances of overlap. With no further ado … here are a few of my al dente highlights, for you: I know about the reputation for Washington cherries. But, if you were to have tree picked cherries from the orchards surrounding Flathead Lake, you too would immediately purchase the t-shirt. Norman MacLean was right. Missoula, Montana is everything he said it was. And to stand on the banks of the Blackfoot River with your family – no words spoken, watching and listening to the waters ripple over the rocks. You could feel the words of his classic American novel swirl all about you, “I am haunted by waters.” Kaleb, my twelve-year-old answered his mother after coming back to the RV from a rural Idaho gas station bathroom. “Yeah, Mom, the bathroom was fine. There was just this weird hole in the stall wall.” Whitefish, Montana is one of the most perfect towns on planet Earth. Period. One morning I awakened to the sounds of a river coursing beside our RV, we sat parked at a random pull-off I chose of the remote two-lane blacktop. I was still in the foothills on the way out of the mountains, but I could see a sun-kissed farmhouse in the distance with a tree that summoned recollections of Redd’s from Shawshank Redemption. My daughter blowing dandelion wisps into the air with a backdrop akin to a Riccola commercial. About 30 percent of the cars north of Utah are Subaru Outbacks. Another 15 percent are Forresters by the same maker. (I now want one too.) If cows and bulls ever unionized and staged a coup d’état, we’d all be screwed. Is it possible that there are more mosquitos NEAR cities? When traveling, do whatever is necessary to avoid major expressways. They are miserable, life denying crap flats. Use backroads whenever possible. The time you think you will make up by taking an expressway is simply not worth it … Ever. Allow yourself flexibility. Sometimes there are places along the way that are worth softening your al dente pledge for – even if just for the night. Always allow the room for something special. There is beauty everywhere. Sometimes, it is better to ride through it, or stay in the heart of it (than it is to fly over it or cruise past it.) Some wild bunnies are less afraid of people than others. My daughter made an actual friend that followed her around. I think it had something to do with her access to a particularly delicious leaf variety that Jade could grab from some low hanging branches that even said rabbit’s bunny “hops” couldn’t quite help her get to. Mountain goats’ ability to scale sheer rock is beyond explanation. There is a road named Going to the Sun Road. The moment you are on it, whether driving or riding, you realize that it was not a clever name, rather, a perfect one. There is a very real satisfaction to driving, maintaining the safety, cooking all the meals and overseeing the set-up and breakdown of a roving gypsy family trickster for the family. It just gives one the feeling of being complete. We call our rig Stomy. Music is only slightly less important that oxygen when you’re on the road. Some cheap advice to our readers: Travel al dente can be done locally or over great distance. Start small. Start big. It is all up to you. Throw caution to the wind, but do take time to be prepared. Go places that you picked randomly. Plan ahead. This is YOUR trip. If you have kids, take them. (And then remember/write down the places you’d like to revisit without them;) Don’t wait. Start planning some travel al dente immediately. You don’t need an RV. You can take your car or SUV. You can take a train and ride it to some off the beaten path places. You can take a bus somewhere. Go see what’s in between, above, below and around. Fill your cup with life. Share moments with those you love and tell your stories to those you cherish who were unable to join. Engage the world around you. Get in. Get on. Roll your sleeves up. Treat yourself to a little dirt under your fingernails. Make it a point … to be brave. P.S. If you’d like to know more about RVing or why/how we did what we did. Just check out or Insta @TheRVingRosenthals – See you there, road warriors! The post Traveling Freestyle On The Open Roads Of America appeared first on Must Do Travels.

https://www.mustdotravels.com/traveling-freestyle-open-roads-america/

#Things To Do #Travel Stories #America #Family #Glacier #Goats #Montana #Roadtrip #RV #travel #Utah

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sacredcynic · 8 years

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2017 Already

It is hard to believe that it is 2017 already. Way back in 1978 I heard Billy Joel sing about 2017, and that date was so far in the future that I never thought much about that far-off, distant year. As I look at the top of the calendar hanging on our wall, that year no longer is distant – it hangs in our kitchen.

I have been hearing and reading quite a few people who seem eager to see 2016 go, because it has been such a terrible year. For some, I am sure 2016 was terrible, since any given year will be bad for a percentage of the population. If you are one of those folks that 2016 beat up, and left by the side of the road, let me join you in welcoming 2017. My prayer is that this year will be a year that more than makes up for the shortcomings of 2016.

Still, I sense a motive behind some of the voices I hear. Some are still griping about the outcome of an election. If that is the reason to view 2016 as terrible, I would caution against it. This will not be the last election in which your candidate will lose, and I would hope you don’t turn over your level of contentment to a political process. Others are simply tired of the division, acrimony, and feelings of strife the election caused. I think we all agree here. The good news is that 2017 will not have a national election. For this we are grateful.

Still, there are many reasons to celebrate 2016, and there are reasons to be thankful. Here are a few. Some of these will resonate with you, while others might only be for me, but here is a list.

· 2016 was finally the year. 2016 was next year. The Cubs won the World Series!! We thought it would never happen – it did.

· It was also a great year for my Indians. The Tribe was so close to winning the World Series, if only_______. Taking a deep breath and moving on.

· My daughter was married in 2016, and more importantly this means that both kids are off the payroll. There is confetti falling around me, you just can’t see it.

· There was a night in Manistee, MI where I saw the greatest sunset in my life. Dozens of others were standing on the beach watching with us. There was a moment when you heard people gasp, or giggle – over a sunset. The more years that pass, the more I like sunsets, especially in Western Michigan.

· My wife and I celebrated 30 years of marriage this year. On the night of our anniversary we celebrated with a dinner of Portillos! We both had a hot dog. The past 30 years have gone fast. If we had chosen differently 30 years ago, maybe the years would have gone slowly. I’ll take fast. I am thankful for fast.

· I set out to write a book this year. It is finished. I like the feeling of getting something done.

· My wife and I spent 10 days roaming around Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks. It is hard to believe that such beauty exists in a world that is the result of random splatter left over from an uncaused explosion. Way too hard to believe. What a beautiful Creation we have! I am thankful, and will always remember the 11 mile hike up to Two Medicine Lake. There was a spot where we were engulfed by a hillside ablaze with brilliant gold and scarlet. Below us was a shimmering blue-green lake, and standing in our path was a stubborn bighorn sheep. You think I am making this up – I am not.

· I am thankful for the note a young lady left me. The note said she had been an agnostic, and a committed one. Now, her note stated, she was following Christ again. Mark Twain once said, “he can live for two months on one good compliment.” The note from the young lady is worth at least four.

· Despite my prayers for a random asteroid to strike the earth and wipe us out before the 2016 election, we have made it through another one. May we learn to live together, and respect each other before 2020 comes along. I am thankful we made it this far.

· Grace is “unexpected love and kindness that I do not deserve.” I am thankful for grace, and for the people who extend it to me. I am most thankful for the originator of that grace. May I learn to extend it more widely in 2017.

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mandygilberton · 6 years

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The Agency’s April Hotlist

From the priciest penthouse for lease in Downtown L.A. to a cliffside stunner in Baja, our listings nabbed major headlines this month. Check out the latest installment of The Agency’s Hotlist. THE AGENCY → “Meet The Agency, where co-founder & CEO Mauricio Umansky and co-founder & president Billy Rose insist egos must be left at the door,” writes Forbes. This month, the outlet caught up with Mauricio and Billy in a feature exploring The Agency’s humble beginnings, from a single 1,800-square-foot office space to an industry-disrupting powerhouse with more than $12 billion in transactions and 16 locations worldwide—and counting. VICA SILVER LAKE → Seamlessly integrating the authenticity and urban spirit of L.A.’s much-loved Silver Lake neighborhood with modern-day, European sensibilities, Vica is the first new-build condominium offering to come to Silver Lake in more than a decade. Located on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Micheltorena Street and developed by Barth Partners and Barry Leddy Developments, the highly anticipated project, readying to open in spring of 2019, was featured in Curbed Los Angeles. CASA FINISTERRA → Built into an enchanting cliff 250 feet above the Pacific, this Steven Harris-designed refuge was showcased in Galerie Magazine. Represented by Billy Rose and Jeff Kohl, the 7,500-square-foot glass and steel home is built around an exquisite courtyard that incorporates boulders found on-site. Hidden skylights, walls of glass, and slender clerestory windows bathe the residence in natural light, while a two-story outdoor living room and cantilevered infinity pool overlook mesmerizing views of the Baja Peninsula. 924 PALISADES BEACH ROAD → Situated on Santa Monica’s fabled Gold Coast, this phenomenal beachfront residence, represented by Santiago Arana, was designed with the aesthetics of a modern yacht in mind. From its central architectural staircase, inspired by the stairs to the California Incline, to a breathtaking rooftop lounge and staggering master suite with 12-foot glass walls revealing expansive views of Santa Monica bay, its opulent features caught the eye of Cottages & Gardens. 888 S. OLIVE → Among the most expensive penthouse residences for lease in Los Angeles, 888 South Olive St. is an entertainer’s dream. The fully-furnished, two-level penthouse boasts four chef-caliber kitchens, 10 bathrooms, a lounge with full bar, two formal dining rooms and an oversized living room that leads to an expansive terrace overlooking the glimmering city skyline. Represented by Kerry Marsico and offered at $100,000 a month, the penthouse recently nabbed a feature in The Washington Post. GINA BLANCARTE → “[Emerald Bay] is where CEOs wear their board shorts to come and relax and not be bothered," Gina tells CNBC’s Secret Lives of the Super Rich. Among those trading their suits for trunks in the prestigious beachside hamlet is none other than legendary investor Warren Buffett. In the latest episode of the popular show, Gina takes viewers behind the scenes of an $18 million Emerald Beach stunner and dishes on what makes the tony enclave shine. 19936 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY → The sound of gently crashing ocean waves isn’t the only thing musical about this Malibu beach abode. For listing agent Don Heller, the home itself is reminiscent of a grand concert hall. “‘You get all the sensory experiences of sound, light, views and connection to people,’” Don muses to The Star. The 3,680-square-foot abode home boasts soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass windows showcasing 50 feet of breathtaking beachfront. The master features a large fireplace, spa-like bathroom and ocean view balcony, while all lower level bedrooms open to spacious decks with direct access to the beach. WEINTRAUB ESTATE → The awe-inspiring contemporary home built for famed producer Jerry Weintraub graced The Los Angeles Times this month. Tucked into the mountains and spanning approximately 1.5 acres in Palm Desert’s elite Bighorn Country Club community, the Guy Dreier-designed home, represented by Richard Bartholomew, David Findley and Mauricio Umansky boasts architectural interiors designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding desert landscape. Sliding pocket doors make way to reveal two infinity-edge swimming pools and spas, while expansive outdoor living spaces overlook the golf course and desert canyons beyond. 2401 COMMONWEALTH AVE → Actor Chris Diamantopoulos and wife, Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton, share quite the pretty Los Feliz pad. Sited on an elevated corner parcel surrounded by mature cypress trees, the three-story architectural estate made headlines in The Los Angeles Times and Variety. Boasting four bedrooms and three baths across 3,165 square feet of living space, the home, represented by Aileen Comora and Paul Lester, features an imported German kitchen and both formal and informal living and dining rooms. Sliding walls of glass flow to gracious outdoor entertaining areas complete with olive trees, a fireplace, pool and spa. The Agency’s April Hotlist published first on https://theopuscondo.tumblr.com/

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andrea-cristina-travel-blog · 7 years

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Traveling Freestyle On The Open Roads Of America

I love decadent resorts. And if you know me, I feel the same about lavish cruises … In fact, I daresay they can be run-of-the-mill and I’ll STILL like them. To me, travel is one of the greatest gifts of life. Something as simple as changing one’s geography, view and perspective can sow the seeds of learning and change. Essentially, to travel is to grow. And there are just so many different experiences and approaches to travel, there is really just no good reason to ever stop. And while there are few substitutes for the replenish and calm one gets from a week or two of doing nothing but papering oneself, dining and letting troubles melt away into infinite calm – the kind of experience one might have at one of those four or five-star tropical escapes … there are other ways to recharge, revitalize and renew. Travel al dente can be done creatively. It can be a spur of the moment road trip. It can be done in tents. It can be enjoyed in odd urban sites or in areas so remote that they’ll confuse your GPS. Or you can even do it without GPS at all (though, doesn’t hurt to have some tech available in case of emergency.) The goal here is to have an experience that brings you closer to the world around you. One that calms you, not because you are pampered in lavish surroundings, but one that allows you to let go of your regular daily rigors and monotony, because you are forced to be completely engaged in something else. Look, nobody here is going to compare the quality of one type of vacation escape or engagement to another and lend a value judgement to it. In fact, I love each in their own way. I just see many (including myself), usually because of limited time or know how, doing more of the resort or cruisy thing, and overlooking the joyous sensory overload of an al dente experience. Think about it this way. When one cooks al dente, the food is a bit firmer, requires a bit more effort to chew. But, the food itself is enhanced. It is even MORE nutritious. The colors are brighter and ultimately, it is better for your body and mind. I am NOT advocating giving up pizza. Cook the heck out of it. I am in. I am just not writing about great pizza today. I am writing about nutritious travel. Today, I am sitting at my desk at one of the largest travel companies in the world. We put together amazing trips and travel opportunities across the globe. We do it for individuals, members, companies – in fact, you wouldn’t believe how much of the travel that goes on in the world it touched by us in some form or fashion. Everybody who works with me loves people, we love vacations and we love new ideas about taking trips. But less than two weeks ago, I was in a late model Toyota Tacoma, one taillight out, driven by James. He lives in a Fleetwood Bounder RV in Torrey, Utah. His tires were kicking up the local red dust from the soil as he, for no reason other than his sense of humanity and good humor, was running me into the next town to a gas station that carried transmission fluid. Yep, my RV, a Fleetwood Southwind Storm was having transmission problems. Maybe a drink of some new fluid would get me going – at least far enough to get to a town with an actual repair shop (no one with a broken, hand-painted sign from a guy named Mike who wasn’t “too keen on helping out until Tuesday or so.” See, hand painted sign repairman Mike was, “into some other things right now.” I am not going to lie, I was stressed. My wife was there; my four kids were there. Our RV was cracked down in a place that was so off-the-grid that the middle of nowhere was a few miles closer to civilization. What’s more. When I did put in the transmission fluid – it didn’t work. Like Ren and Stimpy, we were MAROONED!!! (And I know most of you will likely miss that reference, but hey, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good one. Besides, in the days of Google, you can look anything up – hint, hint.) Okay, I am not going to belabor the RV crackdown. It was on the last leg of a truly amazing journey and in part, it was my fault. Why is not important. What is important is that I learned and won’t be so foolish again. But even this realization is NOT WHY I am writing this note to you. It’s about the heartbeat. The strong heartbeat I felt throughout our al dente journey. It was swimming in Glacier National Park’s Lake McDonald. The lake water is so clear you can open your eyes underwater and see indefinitely. We were also about 80 yards from some bighorn sheep, too. There was no zoo. They could have horned us. Billie Goats eating wildflowers and my daughter (age 15) was singled out for conversation by a yellow-bellied marmot (No shame in this guy’s game. Not sure what it was, but he had a very important message to relay to her) and the moment was hysterically epic. Did you know that in July in Montana there’s sunlight until after 11pm? I didn’t either. I mean, I knew the days were long in Alaska in the summer and that winter’s days were notoriously dark … but there’s just things you get from al dente travel that mean so much. There we were. The campsite in Glacier. A much appreciated success after missing out on a site the night before because we were newbies and got hornswoggled by campsite reserving technique pros (another lesson). My son Aiden (age 14) was doing his “Ahhhnold” impersonation by campfire. It was well after ten o’clock – at night. We were laughing hysterically – our nine-year-old daughter was out of her mind – the clear result of doubling down on double stuffed s’mores amplified by a prodigious lack of sleep (those long days get you amped, I tell you). We knew that we were likely annoying the group of strapping young University of Kansas guys camping nearby who, much to the liking of my fifteen-year-old daughter, seemed to be obsessed with changing their t-shirts 5-6 times a day. (Your guess is as good as mine.) Aiden was on point. He was even lacing in four-letter words to enhance his act. All fair game under the towering pines of Glacier in the glow of campfire embers and bellies full of stick broiled hot dogs, marshmallows, chocolate and grahams. Some other notable sights, moments, and thoughts from our journey (and these are mine though some may have been discussed with my wife and kids.) And that the thing, I am sure we ALL have our own list – with only some overlap. With no further ado … our al dente, for you: I know about the reputation for Washington cherries. But, if you were to have tree picked cherries from the orchards surrounding Flathead Lake, you too would immediately purchase the t-shirt. Norman MacLean was right. Missoula, Montana is everything he said it was. And to stand on the banks of the Blackfoot River with your family – no words spoken, watching and listening to the waters ripple over the rocks. You could feel the words of his classic American novel swirl all about you, “I am haunted by waters.” Kaleb, my twelve-year-old answered his mother after coming back to the RV from a rural Idaho gas station bathroom. “Yeah, Mom, the bathroom was fine. There was just this weird hole in the stall wall.” Whitefish, Montana is one of the most perfect towns on planet Earth. Period. One morning I awakened to the sounds of a river coursing beside our RV, we sat parked at a random pull-off I chose of the remote two-lane blacktop. I was still in the foothills on the way out of the mountains, but I could see a sun-kissed farmhouse in the distance with a tree that summoned recollections of Redd’s from Shawshank Redemption. My daughter blowing dandelion wisps into the air with a backdrop akin to a Riccola commercial. If the cows and bulls ever got unionized and staged a coup d’état we’d all be screwed. Is it possible that there are more mosquitos NEAR cities? When traveling, do whatever is necessary to avoid major expressways. They are miserable, life denying crap flats. Use backroads whenever possible. The time you think you will make up by taking an expressway is simply not worth it … Ever. Allow yourself flexibility. Sometimes there are places along the way that are worth softening your al dente pledge for – even if just for the night. Always allow the room for something special. There is beauty everywhere. Sometimes, it is better to ride through it, or stay in it than it is to fly over it or cruise past it. Some wild bunnies are less afraid of people than others. My daughter made an actual friend that followed her around. I think it had something to do with some particularly delicious leaves that Jade could grab that even said rabbit’s bunny “hops” couldn’t quite help her to. Mountain goats’ ability to scale sheer rock is beyond explanation. There is a road named Going to the Sun Road. The moment you are on it, whether driving or riding, you realize that it was not a clever name, rather, a perfect one. There is a very real satisfaction to driving, maintaining the safety, cooking all meals and overseeing the set-up and breakdown of a roving gypsy family truckster. We call our rig Stomy. Music is only slightly less important that oxygen when you’re on the road. Some cheap advice to our readers: Travel al dente can be done locally or over great distance. Start small. Start big. It is all up to you. Throw caution to the wind, but do take time to be prepared. Go places that you picked randomly. If you have kids, take them. (And then remember/write down the places you’d like to revisit without them;) Don’t wait. Start planning some travel al dente immediately. You don’t need an RV. You can take your car or SUV. You can take a train and ride it to some off the beaten path places. Go see what’s in between, above, below and around. Fill your cup with life. Share moments with those you love and tell your stories to those you cherish who were unable to join. Engage the world around you. Roll your sleeves up. Treat yourself to a little dirt under your fingernails. Make it a point … P.S. If you’d like to know more about RVing or why/how we did what we did. Just check out or Insta @TheRVingRosenthals – See you there, road warriors! The post Traveling Freestyle On The Open Roads Of America appeared first on Must Do Travels.

https://mustdotravels.com/traveling-freestyle-open-roads-america/

#Things To Do #Travel Stories #America #Family #Glacier #Goats #Montana #Roadtrip #RV #travel #Utah

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