View

V is for View. I really thought long and hard on the "V" post. View seemed like it was a bit weak, but couldn't think of anything else. Let's start with the view from the house I grew up in. For several years we lived in a house just outside of Erie, Colorado. Our house sat on a little rise, and we had a great view of the Front Range. A couple of years ago I visited the old place and took this picture of the view.


VIEW FROM MY CHILDHOOD HOME IN ERIE, COLORADO

When I was a boy, I would spend a week every summer at Glacier View Ranch. I always had a good time at summer camp. A few years ago, I made a return visit to Glacier View. I hadn't been there since I was a boy. I was surprised by how much things looked the same. The view from the parking lot was just as I remembered it.


VIEW FROM GLACIER VIEW RANCH

One of the most beautiful views I have ever seen is the view from my brother-in-law Duane's cabin. It is located above Leadville, Colorado and the surroundings are beautiful. The view from Duane's cabin is as pretty as any view in the area.


VIEW FROM DUANE'S CABIN IN LEADVILLE, COLORADO

One of my favorite views is the view of my backyard. Each season has a special beauty. there are dogwoods and redbuds in the spring. In the summer the trees have so many leaves that you can't tell I live in town. I believe that it is the most beautiful in the fall. Here is a view of my backyard in the fall. Duane built the table and benches out of granite slabs.


VIEW OF MY BACKYARD IN THE FALL

The Talimena Scenic Drive has some of the most beautiful views in Arkansas. We are very blessed to have such beautiful views so close. Here are a couple of views from the Talimena Drive.


VIEW FROM GRAND VIEW VISTA


WINTER VIEW FROM THE TALIMENA SCENIC DRIVE

One of the most amazing views I have seen in Arkansas, is the view from The Lodge At Mount Magazine. Mount Magazine State park is the highest point in Arkansas. The lodge and the grounds surrounding it have breathtaking views. The great room has large windows that look out from the highest point in Arkansas.


VIEW FROM THE LODGE AT MOUNT MAGAZINE

The last few days we have been experiencing the effects of a very destructive ice storm.  Last Thursday freezing rain coated the trees and broke many trees causing many roads to be impassible and widespread electrical outages.  Here in town we were without electricity for about 24 hours, but many Polk County residents are still without power 6 days later.  Here is the view down Polk Road 70.

VIEW DOWN POLK ROAD 70 NEAR MENA, ARKANSAS

You can read the blog post that I wrote shortly after our electricity was restored by clicking here.  Even though the ice storm was so destructive, it created some beautiful scenes.  This photo was taken near my house.

VIEW DOWN SOUTH MENA STREET

After all of this ice and cold weather, I saved my favorite view for last. Gina and I love to visit Belize. Our favorite place is San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. The last two times we have visited San Pedro, we have stayed at the SunBreeze Hotel right on the beach. The view from our room was beautiful. Right now we are having freezing rain and sleet here in Arkansas. I wish I was in Belize with this view.


VIEW FROM THE SUNBREEZE HOTEL IN SAN PEDRO, BELIZE

The ABC Wednesday Meme is a fun way to see some great blogs.

Arkansas Autumn

Last weekend we made a quick getaway to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We were hoping to see some beautiful fall foliage, and we certainly weren't disappointed.  The trip up Hwy 23, known as The Pig Trail, was breathtaking.  The colors were as pretty as I can remember seeing here in Arkansas.  We were fortunate to see the colors at their peak.

We have been visiting Eureka Springs for almost 30 years, but in all that time we had never visited Pivot Rock.  The Natural Bridge and Pivot Rock have been tourist attractions in Eureka Springs since the late 1800's.  They have actually attained historic status as an attraction.  We decided that we would visit them on this trip.  The attractions are along a short but steep trail.  When we visited it was a perfect fall afternoon and the short hike was beautiful.  To see a 360 degree view of the area click here.

On this trip to Eureka Springs we stayed at Sherwood Court Cottages. We have stayed there several times before really like the quaint cottages.  It was a very relaxing weekend.  We spent most of our time simply driving around this interesting town.  For a little bit of history and perspective on Eureka Springs, click here.  The fall colors were exceptional and I had a great time taking photos.

Whenever you go spend time in Eureka Springs, you will see and experience some things that are out of the ordinary.  This weekend there was a Zombie Parade.  Many of the locals dressed as Zombies and paraded down Spring Street.  I must say that it was a unique, only in Eureka, kind of experience.

Each year we try to make a trip to Eureka Springs when the fall colors are pretty.  I won't say that this has been the most beautiful year ever for fall color here in Arkansas, but I will say that I have never seen it more beautiful.  I hope that wherever you are , you were able to see some autumn beauty.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

E is for Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Eureka Springs is one of our favorite places. We try to go there several times a year as it is a beautiful three and a half hour drive from home.

Eureka Springs is a Victorian mountain village that was founded in 1879. Judge J.B. Saunders claimed that his crippling disease was cured by the spring waters. Saunders started promoting Eureka Springs to friends and family members across the State and created a boom town. Within a period of little more than one year, the city grew from a rural village to a major city of 5,000 people. By 1889 it was the second largest city in Arkansas. With bath house cures falling out of favor, and the depression that hit the nation being particularly bad in Arkansas, Eureka Spring fell into decline during the 30's.

With the end of World War II the era of the family car trip began. Businesses and services moved to the highway, rustic tourist courts and air-conditioned motels were built alongside diners and gift shops. Sights that had been horseback adventure were now attractions to the motoring tourist. The motoring public could turn-off Hwy 62 down 62B into the valley, follow the loop through the historic little Victorian city, and come back out on the highway.



Early in the 1960s Beaver Lake was completed, and shortly after that Pea Ridge Battle Field National Military Park was opened. Northwest Arkansas attractions continued to expand the number of tourists passing through the Eureka Springs area. In the 1970s, the public was looking for a different lodging experience. The bed and breakfast concept was a perfect fit for the public and for Eureka Springs. The city prospered at a rate reminiscent of the early boom days. It is now a favorite vacation spot for many with over 2500 rooms available. On peek weekends it can be difficult to find a room.

The city has steep winding streets filled with Victorian-style cottages and manors. The old commercial section of the city has an alpine character, with an extensive streetscape of well-preserved Victorian buildings.



I love to take photos in Eureka Springs and have taken many over the years.







The streets of Eureka are always so colorful and filled with interesting people













Here are a couple of signs that caught my attention. I have always found the sign at Scarlett's amusing. Scarlett's is a shop that sells sexy lingerie and other items to "enhance one's sex life". While everyone else in town is open, Scarlett's is closed on their Sabbath.





Our favorite time of the year to visit Eureka Springs is in the fall when the autumn colors are so beautiful.









The ABC Wednesday Meme is a fun way to see some great blogs.