A Little Dab will do ya....

a Sanddab that is. When I travel my mantra is "when in Rome, eat like..." and a meal of these wonderful Pacific fish are an amazing local fare. The Sanddab is the fish of choice in Monterey and Carmel California and is a must when traveling here.

"The smallest Flounder" as it has been called, is a flatfish that is one solid morsel of meat. This white fish reminds me of sole with a mild taste and buttery texture.

If you enjoy fish and want to try a regional delicacy then, "eat like the Romans" and order a plate of Sanddabs, you will love it.

Yosemite National Park

The drive on Highway 120 runs from the eastern to western side of Yosemite National Park and is only open in the summer. This road goes through the four major geographic areas: High Sierra, Granite Cliffs, Sequoia Groves and the Valley.

The High Sierra is a mountain landscape that was carved by glaciers. This high elevation region is the home to Yellow-bellied Marmots, Pika and the Clark's Nutcracker.

The Granite Cliffs are where the sport of rock climbing was born and is still a destination today. The most famous climbs are El Capitan, a vertical rock formation that extends about 3,000-feet from base to summit along its tallest face and Half Dome, the crest of which rises 4,737 ft above the valley floor.

The Giant Sequoia Tree make up the Sequoia Groves zone and contain trees that can live to be 2,000 years old and have trunks up to 25' thick. This tree needs fire to reproduce and the park has many controlled burns throughout the seaso to benefit this forest.

The Valley contains the rivers, meadows and water-loving shrubs and trees that support life here. Common animals in the Valley are Black Bear, Mule Deer and Acorn Woodpeckers along with a host of wildflowers such as Lupine and Fireweed.

Where in the World is Tonopah Nevada?

Tonopah Nevada is the diamond in the rough after a long drive through the state via US-93 and NV-375 (the Extraterrestrial Highway) near the famous Area 51.

Tonopah's fame came in 1900 when a silver lode was found and saved Nevada from bankruptcy. At it's peak, the citizen's of Tonopah numbered 10,000.

In addition to mining fame, this town is known for being rated #1 stargazing destination in America by USA Today. A short drive from town reveals hundreds and thousands of stars coming completely down to the horizon, with a fabulous look at the Milky Way from one horizon to the other. Many falling stars were seen, about 6 per hour and were worth staying up for.

Spending time at the Historic Mining Park is a great way to see what it was like to work in the mines and what a dangerous profession it really was.

Arches National Park and Moab Utah

Arches National Park is a magnificent place to visit when traveling through Utah. The rock formations made of Entrada Sandstone (Red) and Navajo Sandstone (Buff) were created by wind, water and time. The park preserves over 2,000 of these formations and has extensive trails as well as a driving tour through the park to get up close and personal to some.

The park is located in a high mountain desert and can get very hot, 100+ degrees during the day, make sure you have plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat when exploring this region.

A visit to Moab is a must after a day in the desert. This town is vibrant with lots of restaurants and shops catering to people who love sports and being outdoors. Stop by the visitor center and pick up brochures to explore on your own in the Moab area.

Self-Guided Auto Tours will lead you to many scenic byways and recreational areas, Movie Locations Auto Tours will spotlight set locations for movies as early as 1949, including Thelma and Louise and Mission Impossible II. For those who like looking for petroglyphs and signs of historic culture, pick up the Rock Art Auto Tour brochure.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This is America's most visited national park located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee with 8-10 million visitors per year. These 800 square miles in the Southern Appalachian Mountains are known for the amazing diversity of plants, animals, and invertebrates. Over 17,000 species have been documented in the park.

The drive in August created some great wildflower hikes as I went from river bottoms at about 875 feet to peaks over 5,000 feet. Some species that were observed included: Highbush Blueberry, Queen Anne's Lace, Oxeye Daisy, Black-eyed Susan, Touch-me-not, Jewelweed, Red Clover, Sweet Joe-Pye-Weed, Chicory, Heal-all and my favorite, Purple Fringed Orchid.

Must see near Asheville North Carolina

Grove Park Inn is another place to see. It is a magnificent resort and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fireplaces in the main room are large enough to hold a car and the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful.  Many famous people have stayed here including Harvey Firestone, Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford in 1918.

Another good excursion is to the Biltmore Estate.  Built in 1895, this 8,000 acre property is still family-owned today.  It is much more than just the mansion above with gardens, restaurants and a winery.  Plan on spending the day here and enjoy an Asheville landmark.
If you have the opportunity stay for Shindig on the Green in downtown Asheville.  Since 1967, this mountain tradition features a variety of performances by Bluegrass and Old-Time String Bands, Clog Dancers and Fiddle players.  Bring a chair, get some BBQ and enjoy an evening of southern hospitality.

More excursions near Hendersonville

The drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is spectacular and a good stop for a meal or a drink on the deck is the Pisgah Inn, located between mile markers 408 and 409.  At an elevation of 5,000 feet you can see for miles into the valley and relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

Flat Rock is another town on the Register of Historic Places and is named for the flat granite slab that sits in front of the current day Playhouse.  It is believed that the Cherokee people had gatherings here.  Main street has cute shops such as The Wrinkled Egg and a must eat is Hubba Hubba BBQ for a real southern meal.

While in Flat Rock make a stop at Carl Sandberg's mansion.  While he was working on being a writer and poet his wife, Lillian was raising Champion dairy goats.  The area has many trails to hike and the barn still has a herd of about 15 goats that love visitors.  A great way to spend an afternoon.

Between Hendersonville and Brevard are about 10,000 acres of trees, waterfalls and trails known as the DuPont State Forest.  The scenery is incredible and famous for Triple Falls (below) which is a medium hike from the lower parking area.  Another great way to see nature in North Carolina.