How to Travel Responsibly and Ethically

For those of us who love to travel there is perhaps no greater way to understand ourselves and our world than through the conduit of travel. But with travel comes responsibility: how can we be good travelers; responsible consumers while respecting the environment we are in, the people we are surrounded by and the culture we are immersed in? Travel is a privilege, not an entitlement, therefore when I write about travel, and appear as a guest on radio shows I always encourage a thoughtful approach. So I’ve created just a few ideas to help us travel more ethically and responsibly and be better citizens of Planet Earth:

Minimize Your Environmental Impact

~Ask your hotel if they have a recycling program (they should – recycling rates in the U.S. are an abysmal 30%! They are much better in Canada and Europe). The morning newspapers, water bottles, and soda cans should be recycled. If the hotel doesn’t have a recycle program, suggest they might consider one.

~Recycle yourself: I routinely drink bottled water when I travel because I’m not always certain of the water sources of where I’m visiting. But I also recycle those bottles – either at the hotel, or if they don’t have a recycling program, I bring the bottles back with me in my suitcase. Hassle? Nope. They weigh next to nothing and barely take up space.

~Limit your water usage: many areas around the globe are water-stressed even in Cambria, home of the Hearst Castle, water is at a premium because there’s not that much of it. You may be on vacation, but that doesn’t mean you need a long shower.

It's easy to recycle!

Respect All Wildlife

This starts with not feeding wild animals. Sure they’re cute, curious and you can get close to them, but our own crappy diet habits should not be given to animals who are not used to the ingredients (chemical or otherwise) which we consume. Feeding animals damages their health, alters their natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Since Man is at the top of the food chain, we actually bear a greater responsibility to every other creature, to respect them and treat them well.

The Channel Island Fox is adorable, but he doesn't need your food

Hike, Bike,Walk

Stay on all designated trails when you hike, bike and walk. If you camp, camp on durable surfaces, and dispose of your garbage properly (especially true in parks and most especially true if you visit the Channel Islands here on the California Central Coast). So bring a bag with you and pack out exactly what you’ve packed in. I’m guessing you wouldn’t want someone to toss trash on your yard, right? Therefore treat everyplace you visit like it was your own home. It’s easy to think “I’m on vacation, so I’ll do as I please.” Well yeah, I get that idea, but it doesn’t mean our vacation is an entitlement.

Support the Local Economy

I was in Paris to run the Paris Marathon (raising money for cancer research) and part of the group I was with wanted to go to the Hard Rock Café. Mind you, I’m in Paris, home of the best food anywhere and though the Hard Rock employs local Parisians, I can go to a Hard Rock anywhere. Visit the local places where you can explore and have unique experiences. By supporting local businesses they will help the region you visit to thrive. Don’t get me wrong, large corporations have their place too, but dining at chain restaurants is far less valuable to a local economy. 

Support locals, like this farmer in Matzatlan

Many places you visit rely on tourism – even here in Santa Barbara – and I’ve seen businesses shut down because visitors shop at chain stores over local businesses. Half the fun of traveling anywhere is trying new things. I always seek out the local coffee houses, local bakeries, breweries, wineries, restaurants, distilleries and shops and stores. And in truth, some of the best finds are local and only local. While in Switzerland a while back I had a local beer with fresh venison and a potato dish called rosti; all indigenous to the specific are I was in. 

This meal, like so many, was only available where I was traveling

Ultimately treat every place you visit like it was your own backyard. My wife and I pick up trash around Santa Barbara where we live, and we do so everywhere we go, be that Spain, Paris or China. Trash is trash and if you can pick up litter on the way to visit a really cool site, you’ve done a fine thing. So have fun, travel well, learn, explore and by doing so you will continually evolve into a better person, a truly global soul who ends up being more compassionate, interesting and frankly, more cool to the people you meet

Be a good traveler, be responsible and ethical

Water-Logged, Part II: Falling for Waterfalls - The Columbia River Gorge

Multhnomah Falls

The Columbia River Gorge separates Oregon from Washington and this glacially cut, volcanic rock is home to amazing, verdant green forests, trees covered with thick vibrant moss like they were wearing sweaters, and plenty of waterfalls. Why does water, falling from any height illicit a near spiritual response in us? Is it the allure and beauty of cascading water like angel’s wings? Is it the sheer massive force of something far greater then us tumbling to the earth without restriction? Whatever the reason, waterfalls are an integral part of the travel experience.

Waterfalls along the Oregon side of the Gorge are best viewed by a National Scenic Highway 30 and are as ubiquitous as pine tress here, so bring your camera. There is a peculiar sensation of driving from falls to falls, perhaps the radio blaring sequestered in your car, and then that moment you step outside and the artificial noise of the car is stunningly contrasted by the thunderous roar of the water, rather like an extreme punctuation mark. There are about 90 waterfalls along the Gorge most of which you’ll need to hike to, but there is a concentration near the mother of Gorge waterfalls, Multnomah Falls. This heavily visited falls has a 611 foot drop making it the second tallest continuously running waterfall in the U.S. Multnomah is really two falls, a 542 foot drop into a basalt rock pool, then the water passes under the beautiful Benson Bridge (built in 1914), a stone bridge which affords terrific up-close views, then plunges another 69 feet down towards the Columbia River. There is an easy half mile hike to Benson Bridge though it is all uphill. The setting of Multnomah is nearly cathedral-like, massive, grand, basalt rock forming a half moon shape towers above you, forcing you to look up. At the lip of the falls, pine trees ring the outcropping like saints looking down to the faithful. At the base there is a gift shop, which has free maps of the waterfalls, a restaurant, restrooms and plenty of parking.

Wahkeena

From the roadway you can’t see Sheppards Dell, only a sign. The parking lot leads to a paved path and only a few steps in you see the waterfall through the dense foliage. The path is about 1/8^th mile and a stone moss covered pony wall built in 1915 directs you to a small viewing area, meaning you are now halfway between the falls. You can see to your left, the water falling from further up the mountain; to your right it drops down to the floor of the dell. I found that the best views are not here at the end, but just under half way down, which allows you to see the falls through the moss laden trees and also gives you a better visual of the actual dell itself. You only get truncated views here, but the heavily forested dell is stunning.

Wahkeena Falls is perhaps my favorite, though many people pass it by since it’s not tall, forceful or well-known. But it has a certain charm all its own. It’s an easily accessible falls with a large picnic area across the road. There is a paved trail until about the last 100 feet before you reach the falls, and a small stone bridge crosses the water which gets plenty of overspray, causing moss to cover the bridge, making the whole thing look like it belongs in medieval England. There is a cool simplicity to Wahkeena.

Horsetail

Horsetail Falls is one of the few where you can scramble down a short dirt embankment and actually wade into a shallow pool of water. There is the ever popular Bridal Veil Falls with its wide cascading waterfall and rushing stream below it which takes just under a ½ mile walk to get there, but they have built a wooden viewing platform for postcard perfect views. There is also the aptly named thin and wispy Ponytail Falls, but definitely consider Latourell Falls, which is a straight drop, 24 stories down, and if you don’t mind getting wet you can hike behind the falls and see up close the fascinating and way cool geometric-shaped basalt rock, augmented by the overspray from the falls directly in front of you. Cross over the small wooden bridge and you’ll see a rudimentary path to your left and that will take you behind the waterfall. It’s slippery, wet and gusty from the force of the water, so please use caution, but it really gets you up close and personal with waterfalls in ways you can’t with the others. And there's really nothing like standing underneath a waterfall.

Latourell from the front

Latourell from behind the falls

Though tour companies will drive you to various falls for a price, you can access them all for free with a downloadable map and enjoy them on your own terms. Summer time gets crowded, and I feel spring and fall are the best times to visit. Fall is naturally cooler, but the occasional misty weather adds a dimension to the trip, a moody and beautiful enhancement. All these falls listed here are directly off Highway 30, and though a brief walk is necessary for some, most are visible from the road. Not listed here are the falls above these, which require a several mile hike. Worth noting, make certain to spend some time hiking around. The falls are all unique and different and need time to appreciate for their individual characteristics, so don’t just rush through them as if this were a task list. Download a concentrated map, or get a local guidebook to further explore the area. This is meant as a leisurely tour, not a race to see as many falls as you can within a short time.

Whichever falls you visit in the Gorge, make sure you give yourself plenty of time

You can get maps here: www.ColumbiaRiverHighway.com   

Ski New Mexico - Part 1: Family Fun

New Mexico and skiing: two ideas that don’t seem to belong in the same sentence. New Mexico conjures up images of flat desert and, yes, there are large swatches of arid, dry land that are beautiful in their own right. But the Rocky Mountains end, or begin depending on your perspective, in Northern New Mexico, and these ski areas have enviable proximity to world class destinations like Santa Fe and Taos. You can easily fly into Albuquerque, then rent a car and be on the slopes in a few hours. There are a number of ski areas and this post and Part II will focus on just four: Angel Fire, Ski Santa Fe, Taos Ski Valley, and Red River.

The views at the top of Angel Fire are stunning

The Hills Are On Fire

Angel Fire Resort is a low key, family-oriented spot, incredibly inexpensive offering skiing, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, tubing, and in the summer months this year-round resort offers horseback riding, mountain bike trails, eight tennis courts, golf and disc golf. Situated at 10,000 feet and so named by the Navajo for the brilliant sunsets and sunrises, Angel Fire is a two-hour drive from Santa Fe. There are a total of 67 runs and the top runs start about 10,500 feet. High season gets crowded as people return regularly because there is literally so much to do here, and it’s a perfect family getaway with plenty of lodging at the base. There is an indoor pool, hot tub, free wireless, live music on weekends, and even childcare. Angel Fire is privately owned and is the only resort in New Mexico to offer night-time skiing and tubing. Each year they also have the Shovel Race – and I think you can see where this is going: people launch down runs racing on shovels. 

Boarders and Skiers share the slopes in New Mexico

Seriously. There are six restaurants on site, most with average fare, but if you want a more upscale feel, their signature restaurant, Elements, will give you a fine dining experience in a sophisticated environment. For the curious, like me, they offer Nordic skiing, AKA cross-country. If you ski, you might think the 10 miles of outdoor trails will be easy to navigate. Yes, cross-country seems more like walking on skis and looks simple, but the reality is this offers a strong cardio component, and takes some time to get used to as Nordic skis are pencil thin. I didn’t fall as much as I thought I would, but after a brief training I did OK, and so will you. Cross county is also more serene, you don’t have borders and skiers passing you at breakneck speeds.

Big Mountain – Small Town

Then there is Red River, a small town of about 500 people whose population explodes during ski season. What makes Red River desirable is that the whole mile-long town is fully integrated into the slopes, meaning that about 80 percent of all the lodging is within a five block walk to the dual quads which take you directly up the mountain. In addition to winter skiing, snowboarding and tubing, there is summer tubing and an 18-hole disc golf course. The ski area is a throwback; completely low-tech with old hand written ski forms, but there is something comforting about the old-school approach. They have the widest runs for beginners and overall this is a great spot for intermediates. But Red River is also the only place to get on a snow mobile and take off to the Kit Carson Wilderness and explore with a guide on the back of a machine. Snow mobiles are not simple machines either, they do take some upper body strength to maneuver, but once at the top of the mountain, they let you loose in an open meadow where you can get your snowmobile up to about 40 mph – something that was way cool. You ascend in the late afternoon after the runs shut down, and return in the dark. Prices start at $70 for a two-hour tour and if you’ve never done it – this is the place for it. 

The Lift House at the base of the Platinum Chair run

On Saturday evenings in season you will be able to watch the Torchlight Parade which begins around 7:15 p.m. Skiers holding flares ski down the lower slope of the Platinum Chair circling back and forth creating an orange colored light show – a weaving graceful ballet of amber lights. It’s brief but fun and occurs only here. There are plenty of hotels and condos to stay at: I stayed at the Ponderosa Lodge, a three block walk to the lifts, and I have to say, though Ponderosa is not a spanking new property, it has a rustic feel with a stone fireplace and full kitchenette. The Lift House (at the base of the run) has fine bar food, and Capo’s is a family run Italian place with large portions and friendly staff. Texas Red’s Steakhouse is just that – lots of meat; all good places to satisfy your hunger after a long day.

Wide runs at beautiful scenery at Red River

The unique part of skiing in New Mexico is the friendly people, the lack of pretentiousness and the genuinely terrific runs and views. Lift tickets are routinely 20 percent cheaper in New Mexico than most other areas, and the diversity of these ski spots, and their reasonable proximity to each other, means you can visit all four in a week. They may be slopes less traveled, but are worth checking out.

WHEN YOU GO

www.SkiNewMexico.com

www.AngelFireResort.com, (800) 633-7463

www.RedRiverSkiArea.com, (800) 331-7669

Water-Logged: Wet and Wild - The Columbia River Gorge (Part 1

The Columbia River Gorge, a 1,243 mile water way cut into volcanic cliffs, is a natural border between Oregon and Washington. But it’s also a natural playground, with stunning rugged beauty near Hood River, an hour east of Portland. It’s here that Lewis and Clark concluded their epic cross-country journey in 1806, and where today, epic adventures await in and on the water. There is a recreational bonanza including white water rafting, stand-up paddle boarding, waterfalls (see part 2 of this post), food cruises, kite-boarding, kayaking and virtually anything you can do on water. There are water activities for adrenalin junkies, like plunging down a 14 foot waterfall, to junk food junkies who prefer merely watching water while noshing.

The White Salmon (photo: Wet Planet)

Rapidity

The White Salmon River cuts through Washington State and empties into the Columbia River near the town of Hood River, and the narrow canyons are home to class III and IV rapids and best of all for the adventurous, a 14 foot drop at Husum Falls. Wet Plant White Water (3 hour trip, $60) starts their trips at their own private put-in where they access further upriver than anyone else. Second, once you’re finished rafting, you’re at their office, just walk across the road and you’re done, no need to transport you back to where you started. Besides, after rafting for three hours you’re wet, tired and hungry and ready to get dry. The river is stunning in its beauty with volcanic rock banks and verdant green forests. Parts are calm and serene, and parts are frenetic a wild, but the whole of the river is breathtaking. Since there are no hiking trails here, you cannot see the river any better than rafting it. Drew Parker was my guide and led me through the Triple Drop, the Staircase, and other class III rapids that will flood you with the crystal clear water of the White Salmon. We stopped a few times to stretch our legs and at one point you have the option of leaping from a 17-foot drop into the river to your raft, or follow a land-based line back towards your raft.

Emerging from the falls (photo: Wet Planet)

Either way getting on land occasionally gives you a better understanding on the river. But you’re thinking about the waterfall and are you really going to make that drop in a raft? You’re trained for this moment, rehearsing exactly what to do with specific instructions from your guide: from when you approach the falls to what to do once you head down them. Your heart will beat faster, you’ll paddle like a madman and the time from when you descend to when you pop up out of the water is mere seconds, but those seconds see you plummeting down a cascading roar of water delving nearly face first into the White Salmon, totally submerged enveloping all of you, the cold, brisk water completely invigorating you. Never has so much water gone up my nose in so short a time. Popping up from the whirlpool our raft is like toast exiting a toaster. I’ve done the waterfall twice and it’s exhilarating, awesome and slightly nerve-wracking, but it’s just so cool. I highly recommend it!

Jim and I on the Columbia

Wavelengths

“If you can walk and swim, you can do this,” says Jim Stevens, who teaches stand up paddle boarding at Big Winds, based in Hood River. Classes are an hour and a half and show you the basics of paddling which requires more understanding than you might think. Their classes ($49 all inclusive) get you on the water in no time, cruising the Columbia River up close. If you’ve seen paddle boarding from shore you might wonder what the deal is. First, it’s a quiet non-invasive way to explore rivers, lakes, oceans and here, paddle across the Columbia River up into the White Salmon River. The other aspect is that it gives you a full body workout. How hard you paddle is up to you; break a sweat, or just cruise, but it will definitely tone your body while you soak up the views. Ultimately staying on your board is all about balance which is why instruction is necessary to keep you from taking a plunge, or learning the proper way to get back on your board if you do. Once you trust your legs, you’ll be exploring the Columbia River like a native.

The Sternwheeler is a more relaxed way to view the Gorge

Champagne

For those who prefer to watch the water and not be in it, Portland Spirit offers multiple river cruises, but the Sternwheeler, a replica of a traditional 1880s paddle wheeler which used to run these waters, offers a Sunday brunch cruise ($44 per person) as well as other food cruises. The two hour cruise explores parts of the Columbia River like the Bonneville Dam, the Bridge of the Gods, and the ramshackle fishing villages that line the banks, allowing you to view the river in ways you can’t by driving the Oregon or Washington highways which flank the River. The captain narrates a brief history about Lewis and Clark and the Native American Indians who once controlled these waters. The interior of the Sternwheeler is studded with historic photos of former ships and makes you realize that we’re blissfully lazy compared to what the early settlers endured, especially as you sip Champagne from the comfort of your chair. Brunch includes bottomless Champagne, eggs, bacon and sausage, home-style potatoes, shrimp, cheeses and it ends with a dessert course. This is an easy way to see and experience the Columbia Gorge effortlessly.

Villa Columbia B & B

Stay

There are no shortages of places to stay in the Gorge but with all the physical activity comfort is a priority. The Villa Columbia B&B in Hood River has great access to the river but it’s also within walking distance to wine tasting rooms, brew pubs and restaurants. The 100 year-old house has all its original hardwood, including built-ins. Breakfasts are served in the dining room with views to the Gorge, and snow capped Mt. Adams across the river in Washington State. Their six rooms offer wireless Internet, TVs, complimentary water, sodas, coffee and tea. For winter guests, they are only 30 minutes to skiing at Mount Hood. If you have your own bikes, rafts or kayaks they have storage underneath the house. Breakfasts feature area produce and the region is packed with orchards so you’ll get fresh apple juice, organic orange juice and some of the best fruit parfait imaginable.

GO

Wet Planet White Water: (www.wetplanetwhitewater.com)

Big Winds (www.bigwinds.com)

Portland Spirit (www.portlandspirit.com)

Villa Columbia B&B (www.villacolumbia.com)

Cocoa Fe: Chocolate in Santa Fe

In the classic children’s book, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” chocolate is made in a mysterious factory populated by tiny men running around who mix, stir, churn and occasionally sing about chocolate. The reality of cocoa and its origins in the U.S. is far different than some Technicolor work of fiction, but none the less entertaining. Cocoa comes from beans grown in certain parts of the world. How it came to North America first began in South America.

Cocoa Then

To go back to its origins, when Spanish explorer Hernan Cortez arrived in Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1518 he found Montezuma and his Aztec subjects drinking large quantities of chocolate, more actual cocoa than the refined chocolate we know today. There were 12 species of the cocoa plant which grew on the languid shores of Mexico, and the Spanish fell in love with it, and, as Spain conquered everything in sight, cocoa beans were sent back to Spain where they were introduced to the Europeans for the first time.

17th Century Cocoa Cup

Therefore chocolate became an integral part of the Spanish way of life in the New World and as the Missions from Texas to New Mexico and California were established chocolate became a considerable staple of everyday life. Mission documents record the important use of chocolate for prestigious guests and the padres routinely drank hot chocolate first thing in the morning. Cocoa at that time was also a valuable commodity and many storage vessels had locks on them such as shown in these photos. In fact this storage jar and cocoa cup date from the 17^th century and are on display, along with a few other historical cocoa items at the New Mexico Museum of History. People covet chocolate today, and clearly they did half a century ago.

17th Century Cocoa Storage Jar

Chocolate Now

These days chocolate is imbedded into our lives is a variety of forms: hot cocoa, bittersweet, and white chocolate, to powder sprinkled on tiramisu, to a rub for meats. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, there are four chocolate shops to visit and it’s always good to know you can get hand made chocolates, truffles and other cool cocoa-inspired treats wherever you go. But, the most interesting representation of cocoa is a small shop, Kakawa, located in downtown Santa Fe. This former residence, now a store, creates individual chocolates, but most cool of all creates what they call “authentic Meso-American and historic European chocolate drinks.” Owner Tony Bennett (no, not that Tony Bennett) helms this six year-old concept. There are hardwood floors and this space is homey and comfortable where folks hang out and drink cocoa while checking email or just chatting. They roast their own red chiles used in some of the drinks (elixirs they call them) and make small batches of chocolates, and use water, not cream, to mix into their drinks as this is more historically accurate.

Bag 'O Chiles For Roasting

They use agave nectar as opposed to sugar or corn syrup because is it not only healthier, but also represents the historic reality of Mayan cultures who used agave plants in their cooking. Should you find yourself in Santa Fe, stop in to Kakawa, as they are located right downtown. Yes, the individual chocolates are very good, but I wanted to sample the drinks. Their “Zapoteca” is unsweetened cocoa, but not bitter, however it is thick and potent. Their “Chili” utilizes Ancho chilis, agave, Mexican vanilla and it hits your palate with bittersweet, then the spicy chili kicks in and slowly takes over. If you think of these drinks in terms of American hot cocoa, you’ll miss the point. These are sturdy drinks, thick and probably unlike what you’ve ever had before. And the cool thing is that you can, in a way, taste history since drinking chocolate goes back at least 500 years!

Kakawa Owner Tony Bennett

There is actually a Santa Fe chocolate trail, a loose collection of four chocolate shops, not a trail really at all. But the point is that while in this historic city, one of the oldest cities in the U.S., you can sample modern and historic iterations of chocolate. In fact, kind of interesting, When the Palace of the Governors was built in 1610 in downtown Santa Fe (and still standing mind you), it was only 92 years prior that Cortez was sipping his first cocoa drink in Vera Cruz. Should you find yourself in Santa Fe, make it a point to stop in Kakawa, as they are located right downtown. You can also check out the other chocolate places: The Chocolate Smith, C.G. Higgins, and Todos Santos. 

To learn about cocoa in Santa Barbara, California visit: www.CervinsCentralCoast.blogspot.com, and enjoy your cocoa!

www.KakawaChocolates.com

Drink Historic Cocoa At Kakawa

Art According to Santa Fe

Santa Fe, New Mexico is art central and there are more art galleries here vying for attention than college kids during spring break in Florida. But twice a year the Spanish Colonial Market arrives, heavy with emphasis on cultural identity and a respect for the past. So with a formidable arts community replete with contemporary perspectives already in place, why would you need a throwback to a centuries-old art form?

The answer is simple: heritage. The Spanish Market, begun in 1926, is held only two times annually, in the summer and winter, though the summer market is by far the most popular and, frankly, the best time to visit Santa Fe. The point of the market is to sustain the cultural and artistic heritage of local artists and it does this quite handily. Over 200 artists have booths lining multiple streets, and crowds are in excess of 50,000 over the weekend. The clear focus is what is called the Spanish Colonial Market, (though there is a contemporary artists section as well.) Many of these traditional artists, who must be at least one-quarter Hispanic, do not have galleries in the crowded confines of Santa Fe, which is already home to about 250 art galleries. 

Retablos



So this makes an ideal time to meet these artists in person, talk to them about their work and find something you may not see in the traditional galleries. Since there is a focus on the artistic heritage of New Mexico, you’ll find a plethora of religious iconography; retablos, crosses, tinwork, carving, jewelry, all with spiritual connotations. Back in the day it was the santero, a maker of images of saints in either a three-dimensional carvings called bultos, or paintings on a substrate, typically wood, known as a retablo, who were the chief artisans in the villages here. Santeros were itinerant artists, going from church to church and village to village to offer their work, dating back to the 1700s. It was their vision and handiwork that adorns many of the historic buildings. These days retablos and bultos are still made by hand and are extremely popular. But also represented are the Native American cultures with pottery, weaving and jewelry. It is, in the best sense, a culmination of cultures and customs; an artistic expression of what defines the Southwest.



Bultos



The contemporary arts section, some of which has a decidedly hip take on the traditional retablo for example as well as non-religious art, is a perfect adjunct to the traditional. Some art here pushes the boundaries, some is sanitized and safe, but it is all wonderful and exhilarating to be in a place where the artist is honored; where art is still considered a noble calling.

But visiting Santa Fe also means exploring outside of town and Pecos National Historical Park is a must stop; a confluence of history, hopes and freedom, fear and repression. 12 separate Indian pueblos were once here which eventually consolidated into a single large pueblo with 2,000 inhabitants. Then the Spanish showed up and you can guess where things went from there. At Pecos the demarcation lines of the old pueblo are clearly visible – set atop the highest point to view whoever came their way. Certainly they saw the Spanish coming, but could not have foreseen what their future would become. The Spanish built a massive church close to the pueblo, and the remains from the early 1700s adobe are still here. To walk the area is to be transported back in time. It’s a mere 30 minutes from Santa Fe, but worth the drive. About 30 minutes in the other direction is the Santuario de Chimayo, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the U.S. The old pueblo church still stands, albeit slightly lopsided, and worshippers and visitors come to claim some of the “holy dirt” which they believe aids in their healing.




A modern art form compliments the traditional



The Spanish Market is a two day event and it’s advisable to stay within walking distance of the downtown core for easy access. There are plenty of places to lodge for the night, but to make certain you are immersed in the Santa Fe culture, forgo traditional chain hotels lacking personality, and consider either the Hotel St. Francis, or Hotel Chimayo, both in downtown Santa Fe. Hotel Chimayo is steps from many of the museums and the old Mission, and the property retains the classic Southwest feel and the accent work, from wrought iron, to tile to woven rugs were all done by local artists. The St. Francis recalls the Franciscan period when the Missions and the Spanish dominated the region. The hotel, originally from the 1920s, has small historic rooms, and a monastery-like lobby. Both have in-house restaurants and the St. Francis has an energetic bar with live music. Visiting Santa Fe means that you’ll not only walk away with art for your home, you’ll leave with an appreciation for other cultures as well.



Religious overtones are apparent at the Spanish Market



The lobby of the St. Francis


DO:

Spanish Colonial Market: http://www.spanishcolonial.org/

Pecos National Historical Park: www.NPS.gov/Peco/

STAY:

Hotel St. Francis: http://www.hotelstfrancis.com/

Hotel Chimayo: www.hhandr.com/plazareal.php





The Top 5 Exploracation Blog Posts of 2011



Time to Travel! (photo taken in Madrid)

This blog, dedicated to exploring the world we live in, was designed to give any traveler suggestions and ideas about where they might want to go. I’ve assembled the top five most visited blog posts for 2011 and I was quite surprised by which posts were the most popular. So sign up to receive the bi-monthly posts it’s all FREE and share this with friends, Tweet this, post it to your Facebook wall but get the word out so others might Do What They Didn’t Know! The Top 5 most visited Exploracation blog posts for 2011 are...

#5 – Fredericksburg, Texas: Small Town, Big Bites – Grits, wine and the Fat Man. This is an amazing little town with big ideas. Trust me on this, Fredericksburg is probably the coolest small town in the big state of Texas.

http://exploracation.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-said-fred-texas-fredericksburg.html 

#4 – Switzerland: Cheese, Wine & Chocolate – I love Switzerland, and I love the cheese, chocolate and wine from this amazing country. Take a brief culinary trip with me and please, no salivating on your keyboard.

http://exploracation.blogspot.com/2011/06/swiss-food-bliss-eat-drink-repeat.html

#3 – The Spiritual Side of Santa Fe – From the Mission to the spiritual ‘staircase’ to the ruins of a Spanish Church (1710), and the most visited pilgrimage site in the U.S., Santa Fe will re-align your attitude, spiritual or otherwise.

 http://exploracation.blogspot.com/2011/08/santa-fe-new-mexico-spiritual-side.html 

#2 – Richmond, Virginia: The History You Don’t Know – The Civil War, blah, blah, blah. But wait, Richmond, Virginia is far more than that. See what you seriously did not know in a very cool, old town.
http://exploracation.blogspot.com/2011/05/richmond-virginia-history-underfoot.html

 
#1 – Nova Scotia: Of Lobster and Tidal Bores – Ride the waves, taste the wine, eat lobster. Seriously, what else do you want? A very cool place to visit that many people do not consider. And you can get really muddy. Did I mention sleeping in a train?

http://exploracation.blogspot.com/2011/04/nova-scotia-baby-you-can-ride-my-wave.html 

Should you be visiting California, please consider getting one of my Moon guidebooks: Santa Barbara & The Central Coast, covers Ventura to Hearst Castle; California Wine Country, covers the best wine regions in the Golden State including Napa, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Monterey and others; and Spotlight: Cambria & San Simeon, is a booklet focused on Cambria, Morro Bay and Paso Robles. All these books are available nationwide in paperback and on Kindle. My next Moon book California Road Trip covers the Great Drive many people make: Los Angeles to San Francisco with side trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. It will be published in April 2012. Safe Travels and Happy Trails! www.MichaelCervin.com