Top 8 Things to Do in Nashville for Music Lovers {+ Travel Tips}

Music lovers, here’s our list of eight iconic, must-see, don’t-even-think-of-skipping sites in Music City, along with a Nashville travel tips that will make your life a little easier along the way.

Mother Maybelle Carter If you don’t know who this woman is, you should study up fast, because she likely had an influence on the music you’re listening to now, no matter what kind it is. [Mural: Carter Vintage Guitars]

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As a lifetime student of music and music making, there was a time when I thought I knew a lot about the history and evolution of music in America. However, our trips to Tennessee have taught me that I have far more to learn than I could ever have imagined.

As we visited these iconic Nashville music destinations, Mr B and I got a crash course in the varied cultural influences that formed American country music as we know it today. One of the things that became crystal clear was the intricate web of influence that has been woven over time to create what we now call “American” music – in all its many forms. If that had been the only thing I took away from Tennessee (it wasn’t!), it still would have been totally worth the trip.

If you love music and are traveling in Nashville, be sure to visit these eight spots!

Eight Iconic, Must-See Nashville Music Sites

1 . Ryman Auditorium

Originally built in 1892 at the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974. Due in part to its religious roots as a house of worship, and in part to its place in American music history, the Ryman is known even today as “The Mother Church of Country Music.”

From the time its first stage was built, the Ryman has served as a venue for a wide variety of events, including religious revivals, jazz recitals, operas, ballets, political debates and Broadyway musicals. Mr B and I were both awestruck by the musical history the building holds. If you go, take the Backstage Tour. It is more than worth it.

2. Country Music Hall of Fame

This is the place where I finally started to internalize the profound impact and influence Nashville has had on the evolution of American music. The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee is one of the world’s largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American music, and houses the world’s largest collection of country music and artifacts.

🎶 Read More about The Country Music Hall of Fame in our post “What We Learned from Bob & Johnny at The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.”

3. RCA Studio B

The historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio, is birthplace to more than 35,000 songs, and more than 1,000 hits. This is where the Everly Brothers recorded “All I Have to Do is Dream” (a signature song for Mr B and me), Roy Orbison recorded “Only the Lonely,” and Dolly Parton set the tracks for her classic “Coat of Many Colors.” For anyone with musical roots, standing in this space is moving beyond words.

🎶 Read More about RCA Studio B in our post “Home of 1000 Hits: RCA Studio B {Nashville}.”

4. Hatch Print Show

Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest working letterpress print shops in the U.S. Our tour of the print shop ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our trip, in a very good way. We’ll share more in a more in-depth post, but for now, suffice it now to say that this should not be missed. Such an extraordinary piece of music history.

5. Honky Tonk Highway

Take a walk down Lower Broadway in Nashville and you’re sure to hear music pouring out of honky tonks up and down the street at all hours of the day and night. (Well, almost all hours. Folks have to sleep sometime, you know. They are, however, open from 10am until 3am the next day. Every. Single. Day. 365.) There’s no cover charge (or at least I didn’t see any place that had one), so you can wander in and out of places until you find your heart’s desire.

The coolest part, aside from all the history and local color, is that you just never know who you’ll be listening to. Country music legends like Willie Nelson, Gretchen Wilson, and Deirks Bentley, along with so many others, all began their careers singing in the honky tonks along this famous street.

You know what that means, don’t you? You could wander into The Second Fiddle one night and listen to country’s newest rising star – before anyone even knows they’re on the horizon – all for the price of a beer.

6. Ernest Tubb Record Shop

It may be tucked between the honky tonks on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, but this cool little store gets its own line item. Why? Well, let’s start with the fact that it has a copy of virtually any country music recording ever made, from classic country to bluegrass to post-punk hillbilly.

Founded by Grand Ole Opry star Ernest Tubb in 1947, the staff is amazingly friendly – and boy-howdy, do they know their country music! While Mr B picked up a few Patsy Cline CD’s for his mama, the man we spoke with (who I believe was the current owner) chatted with him about the old-timers, easily moving back and forth between past and present singing greats with the ease of someone who lives for the music.

7. Carter Vintage Guitars

If you are a musician of any skill level, or have ever even held a guitar in your hands long enough to figure out a G-chord, then you need to make time to stop in at Carter Vintage Guitars.

Founded in 2012 by Christie and Walter Carter (I have no idea if they are related to the famous Carter family or not), this guitar shop aims to provide “a comfortable place for fine fretted instruments and the people who appreciate them.”

The place is filled with beautiful instruments at every price point, but even if you aren’t in the market for a new guitar, you’re sure to find something fun to play a few licks on. (Mr B tried out a very nice 12-string while we were there.) If none of that appeals, the mural on the outside wall is worth the trip all by itself.

8. Grand Ole Opry

DO NOT MISS THIS! This ain’t your great-grandma’s Grand Ole Opry (but she’d still feel right at home).

The Grand Ole Opry was founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio “barn dance” on WSM, making it the longest-running radio broadcast in US history. Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases an eclectic mix of famous singers, old-timers, and contemporary chart-toppers. Live performances include a little bit of everything: country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, and even comedy.

With a seating capacity of 4,400, the Grand Ole Opry House is considered the largest broadcasting studio in the world, but it is nevertheless still surprisingly intimate. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, but if you plan to attend the Grand Ole Opry, order you tickets in advance for the best seats. Mr B and I went to the Opry on our last night in Tennessee, and it was the perfect way to end our vacation.

Nashville Travel Tips

1. Parking downtown costs a ton. Budget for it.

This was the most shocking traveler issue we ran into on our trip: the parking fees in downtown Nashville are exorbitant, and they can take a significant bite out of your budget. Daily rates run around $20, and in one location, it cost us $16 to park for two hours. There are a couple of less expensive parking options, which were unfortunately filled up at the time of our visit. (It probably didn’t help that we were there during the Stanley Cup finals!)

2. Everyone needs a valid ID to purchase alcohol in Tennessee.

In 2007, Tennessee became the first U.S. state to make universal carding mandatory. Clerks are held responsible and face huge fines and other penalties for not requiring ID, so no matter how many crow’s feet you have, you will need to have a valid driver’s license or other official form of ID to buy a drink. No exceptions.

3. Do NOT plan to stick to your vegan/paleo/vegetarian/points diet.

It’s just not happening. (To clarify, I’m sure that Tennessee residents can and often do eat a very healthy diet: this is strictly from a visitor’s point of view.) Granted, Mr B and I were eating at some rather touristy establishments; nonetheless, every menu we looked at consisted of three big, colorful columns filled with delicious-sounding descriptions of succulent, smokey meats and deep fried proteins (and I don’t mean tofu) and carb heavy sides.

{Actual Conversation}

Do you have any vegetables on the menu?

Why sure, honey. See here? We got green beans and bacon, collard greens and bacon, baked beans and bacon…

How ’bout a salad?

Down there in lower right corner. Under the sides and beverages. See that little box green box? No, lift up your thumb up. There it is! See, we have two salads – a House and a Caesar. Both come with cheese grits on the side. Y’all got all kinda options, honey.

All kidding aside, just embrace and enjoy the local cuisine, because it is so so so good. You can climb back onto your kombucha and kale chip wagon when you get home, if that’s your jam.

Speaking of which, you have got to try the Nashville Hot Chicken – crispy, spicy, and oh-so-addictive! Seriously. Just do it. Best thing we ate in Tennessee, hands down. It’s fabulous, and totally worth the line you’re probably going to have to wait in. (I wrote a whole post about Nashville Hot Chicken just so I could learn to make it at home! Be sure to check it out!)

Disclosure: All opinions and photos (except as noted) are our own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Original Pub Date: June 28, 2017

Camassia Nature Preserve: Wildflowers, Wildlife & Family-friendly Hiking

May 15 By Renée ♥ 3 Comments

The Camassia Nature Preserve is a 26-acre natural area known for its beautiful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and easy, family-friendly trails.

For a few brief weeks every spring, wildflower fields along the Columbia River burst forth in a rhapsody of blue.

It is Camas Season.

Though it closely resembles a lily, the Camas plant (“Camassia quamash”) is actually a member of the asparagus family. It was unknown to science before Lewis and Clark made their Voyage of Discovery. The flowers grow in clearings along the Columbia River, and were once so abundant in the Pacific Northwest that that non-indigenous travelers would mistake the blue covered fields for distant lakes.

The quamash is now in blume and from the colour of its bloom at a short distance it resembles lakes of fine clear water, so complete is this deseption that on first sight I could I could have sworn it was water.

Meriwether Lewis, Personal Journal, 1806

It’s becoming more difficult to find those wide blue meadows in these modern times. Many are secreted away in elusive alpine meadows along the Columbia River Gorge, and you must do the work to find them. (And by work, I mean Hike, with a capital H, as in up-Hill.)

There is, however, at least one place you can go to easily experience the camas lilies in bloom, along with a host of other wildflowers, native plants, and animals – at the Camassia Nature Preserve in West Linn, Oregon.

CAMASSIA NATURE PRESERVE ⬇️ VIDEO PHOTO-STORY

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The Camassia Nature Preserve is a 26-acre natural area owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. The nature area is renown for its beautiful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and easy, family-friendly trails.

Named for the common blue camas that blanket its meadows each spring, the preserve holds something for visitors to experience year-round.

DID YOU KNOW? Camas was an important food source for the indigenousness peoples of Northwest. Bulbs could be fire-roasted and provided a nutritious, sweet-tasting, high-protein staple.

The rocky plateau upon which the nature area sits was originally formed by ice-age, glacier-fueled floods. It now provides a habitat for more than three-hundred plants, and is home to a myriad of meadow, tree, and pond dwellers as well; including deer, raccoons, skunks, hummingbirds, wood ducks, raptors, newts, osprey, salamanders, and a choir of songbirds.

I managed to get a super-short clip of a little red-headed woodpecker in action. ⬇️ (You’ll see him right under the arrow is when you hit Start.)

The 1 1/2 mile loop trail is well-maintained and family-friendly. Most of the trail is covered with bark chips, and some potentially muddy stretches are also lined with a composite boardwalk. Hikers are asked to stay on the trails to protect and preserve the wildlife.

If you are planning to hike the park with little ones, be aware that there are a couple of places where you are going to want to be extra vigilant, particularly on the short stretch of the trail that overlooks the river: there is a wide berth between the edge and the trail, but there are no guard rails. Also, while we’re discussing cautions, be sure to watch out for poison oak at the trail edges. We didn’t see any on our visit, but there are warnings about it all over the preserve.

When we visited, we saw hikers as young as two and as old as eighty. Despite the warning about the “big hill up ahead!” that we received form one particularly helpful five-year old as we passed her on the trail, there were only a few very slight uphill climbs, but nothing remotely demanding. (Note that while the hike rates an “Easy” in my book, the trail is not wheelchair accessible.)

The park os located directly across the Willamette River from downtown Oregon City, behind West Linn High School. The Conservancy partners with high school ecology students, who use the nature area as an outdoor classroom and help keep it litter-free.

Short, easy, family-friendly wildflower hike - Camassia Nature Preserve {West Linn, Oregon} | The Good Hearted Woman

Did you happen to notice the cool lens-ball image at the top of this post? I bought an inexpensive photo-sphere last fall, and since then I’ve been have been having so much fun with it! It is one of the most inexpensive, easy-to-use photo hacks around, and the results are just so cool!

Check out how the photo sphere magnifies and highlights the flowers in the field in the image below.

Short, easy, family-friendly wildflower hike - Camassia Nature Preserve {West Linn, Oregon} | The Good Hearted Woman

Glass Photo-Sphere Tips

When you take a picture through a glass sphere (i.e., lens ball), the image will appear inverted, much like the image you see when looking at yourself in a spoon. Many times, fixing this is as easy as simply rotating the whole image upside-down, as I did in the first image in this post. (You probably didn’t notice it, but all of the background foliage in the title image is upside-down! )

Other images require a bit more finessing. For example, this small image is the original shot for the image above. Note how the ground inside the sphere appears to be at the top of the sphere, which looks weird no matter how you turn it. To correct this visual dissonance, I cut out the original sphere image using a circle frame, flipped it 180°, and layered it back onto the original image. The result is a complete image in which everything appears right-side up. This little trick doesn’t require any special skill, knowledge, or expensive software – I skipped Photoshop this time and just flipped it on PicMonkey.

(If this doesn’t make any sense, don’t worry – I’m planning a longer post on photo spheres / lens balls later this year.)

Camassia Nature Preserve

5000 Walnut Street
West Linn, OR 97068
Map

There are several entrances to the nature area. The main trailhead is located in a small neighborhood parking area at the end of Walnut Street. There is also an entrance at West Linn High School, and another entrance in a nearby neighborhood.
Parking is limited to a small lot at the trail entrance at the end of Walnut Street. This can be very congested at peak times of the year.
During the spring and summer, volunteers lead guided hikes and teach visitors about the ecology of the preserve.
Hikers are required to stay on the trails in order to avoid disturbing the wildlife.
Dogs, bicycles, horses, camping, hunting, littering, fires, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the preserve.

Wildflower season: Mid-April through early May.

Additional locations where you may find camas fields seasonally in bloom include:

Round Lake Trail in Lacamas Park, Camas Washington
Bush’s Pasture Park, Salem Oregon

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to PIN this Post!

Short, easy, family-friendly wildflower hike - Camassia Nature Preserve {West Linn, Oregon} | The Good Hearted Woman

^{Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!}

Discovering El Paso: One Day of FREE FUN!

April 24 By Renée ♥ 5 Comments

El Paso abounds with FREE fun! Explore the historic Plaza Theater, discover El Paso’s past at the Museum of History, take a scenic drive for an amazing view of three states and two countries – and even visit the downtown pool where live alligators once frolicked!

One of the things I like most about El Paso is the abundance of free fun to be had there. You can enjoy an entire day exploring this thriving city for just the price of lunch!

In two previous “Discover El Paso” posts, I’ve shared our experiences on the Mission Trail and at the historic Concordia Cemetery, both free activities. Today I’m tying our west Texas tour in a bow by sharing an itinerary (read: loose outline) for a completely FREE DAY of activities.

If you have one day to spend in El Paso, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you have come to the right place!

NOTE: Sometime during your day, you’re probably going to need to buy lunch and/or dinner, which are not free. To that end, I’ve listed a few El Paso Good Eats at the bottom of the post.

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ONE FREE DAY IN EL PASO

Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown El Paso.
Explore the El Paso Museum of History.
Tour the Plaza Theater.
Check out the El Paso County Courthouse.
Grab some lunch at Rosa’s Cantina or Salt & Honey.
Wander through Concordia Cemetery.
Cruise up El Paso’s Scenic Drive & Overlook.
Drive El Paso’s historic Mission Trail **
Treat yourself to a dinner at Cattleman’s. (Be sure to go early and explore the grounds!)

** El Paso’s historic Mission Trail is well worth your time, and if you are visiting town for only one day, you can see it all in a couple of hours if you are dedicated. However, if you have more than a day in town, I suggest that you reserve an entire morning or afternoon for the Mission Trail and just take it casual.

Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown El Paso

One of the best ways to explore a new city is boots on the ground. Get out there and walk!

This map illustrates our walking route through downtown El Paso, and will take you by all of the locations listed above.

If you take this route, plan for at least two hours, especially if you are lucky enough to score a tour of the Plaza Theater! This is an easy, level walk that covers just under one mile one way.

Be sure to see:

San Jacinto Plaza
Los Lagartos [Gator Statue] (in San Jacinto Plaza)
DIGIE – Digital Information Gateway in El Paso
El Paso Museum of History
Fray Garcia de San Francisco [Statue] (Right outside the Plaza Theatre)
Plaza Theater
El Paso County Courthouse

NOTE for Nervous Travelers: El Paso often gets a bad rap for its proximity to Juarez, Mexico; however, it actually has a crime rate significantly lower than the national average, and ranked as the 7th safest metropolitan city in the United States in 2018.

SAN JACINTO PLAZA

San Jacinta Plaza opened in 1883 in the heart of downtown El Paso as a place where visitors could relax amid a walled pond and gazebo, seventy-five Chinese elm trees, and a small congregation of alligators.

Because yes: there were alligators.

Live alligators.

Alligator Pool, San Jacinta Plaza, El Paso, Texas [postcard, circa 1913]

From the beginning, the alligators were the central attraction of the plaza, and at one time, the walled pond that served as their home held as many as seven of them.

The alligators were moved to the El Paso Zoo in 1965, and after a brief, failed attempt to bring them back in the mid-70’s, their pond was permanently removed.

The plaza is still fondly known to locals as “La Plaza de los Lagartos,” or Alligator Plaza. Today, a fiberglass sculpture by nationally acclaimed El Paso artist Luis Jiménez honors the original alligators.

Discovering El Paso: Top FREE Things To Do - San Jacinto Plaza | The Good Hearted Woman

Many interesting and historical building are just steps away from San Jacinto Plaza.

SAN JACINTO PLAZA TRAVELER NOTES

San Jacinto Plaza is located on the corner of Oregon and Mills in the heart of Downtown El Paso, Texas. Visitors should be aware that (to my knowledge) there are no restrooms in the Plaza. At the time of our visit, the nearest restrooms appeared to be the ones at the Starbucks across the street.

EL PASO MUSEUM OF HISTORY

The El Paso Museum of History is a small but interesting local museum that promotes the understanding and significance of the rich, multicultural and multinational history of the border region known as “The Pass of the North.”

Like all the attractions on this itinerary, the museum is free. It is also clean, air-conditioned, and has a public bathroom – making it a bargain at twice the price, as my dad used to say. (Especially on a hot day in August!)

The museum is very kid-friendly, especially on the ground floor, where you will find a number of interactive displays. We spent about forty minutes there, which is about all you will need.

We probably would have spent longer at the museum, but we didn’t know that there was a second floor. This, I came to learn after the fact, is where much of the historical information and artifacts are found. That brings me to my only complaint about the museum: it would be helpful to visitors to have clear directions or discovery paths so they don’t miss half the exhibits. But really, that’s on us for not exploring more.

DIGIE – Digital Information Gateway in El Paso

Immediately outside the entrance to the El Paso Museum of History, you will find The large touchscreen digital wall. Known as DIGIE [Digital Information Gatewayin El Paso] it is the second digital wall in the world and the first in the United States.

The wall is made up of five huge touch screens that offer an interactive view of the history of El Paso, with images, video, and information covering from present day back through the 1600’s.

This display is extremely well researched and curated, and we all enjoyed interacting with it immensely. (I definitely should have taken video. Next time!)

El Paso Museum of History
510 N Santa Fe St
El Paso, TX 79901-1145

Phone: 915.212.3120

HOURS

Tuesday-Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
Thursdays: 9 am to 9 pm
Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm
Closed Mondays & City Holidays

More than a hundred brightly-painted murals can be found throughout El Paso. Reflecting a rich Mexican storytelling tradition, these pieces of public art depict El Paso’s history and community pride.

FRAY GARCIA de SAN FRANCISCO MONUMENT

Fray Garcia Monument honors the priest who founded the El Paso area’s first mission. Located the corner of El Paso and San Francisco Streets just outside the entrance to the Plaza Theater.

Sculpted in 1996 by El Paso native John Houser, the 14-foot bronze sculpture is a testament to the great legacy of this Spanish missionary who was known for his kind heart.

PLAZA THEATER

{Officially, The Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center}’

The Plaza Theater is one of El Paso’s most iconic landmarks. This grand monument to old world elegance hosts two theaters: the 2,050-seat Kendall Kidd Performance Hall, and the smaller 200-seat Philanthropy Theatre. The Plaza hosts concerts, Broadway shows, individual performers, and the annual Plaza Classic Film Festival.

The ladies working at the theater that morning seemed almost excited to show us around.

Tours for the public are held every Tuesday at 12pm, and if you can work your schedule around that, by all mean, do so. Unfortunately, we were there on Friday morning, with no Tuesdays in sight. However, when my BFF Jenny asked at the ticket booth, we were immediately invited us inside.

From the outside, you would never know what awaits you beyond the doors. Once you enter, the opulence and grandeur of the space is stunning.

The Plaza Theater first opened September 12, 1930, with advertisements touting it to be the largest theater of its kind between Dallas and Los Angeles. Over the decades, it presented everything from burlesque shows to stage plays to movies.

In the 1950’s the theater began to fall into disrepair, and at one point in 1989 was scheduled for demolition before the community support was able to raise enough finds to save it. The theater was completely refurbished, with great attention and care given to preserving both its structure and history, and reopened in 2006.

One of my favorite spaces at the Plaza was the ladies lounge.

Additional Information

The Plaza Theatre
1 Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, TX 79901-1153

PHONE: 915-534-0600

Weekly public tours on Tuesdays at 12:00 pm. For information on tours of the Plaza Theatre, please call 915-534-0660.

EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE

While I don’t typically make it a point to stop at the county courthouse when I visit a new city, in El Paso’s case I made an exception. Because their county courthouse is exceptional.

The mural inside the atrium of the El Paso County Courthouse are simply beautiful. Spanning three walls and protected by a glass ceiling, “Our History” depicts artist Carlos Callejo’s vision of El Paso’s history in a vibrant, dynamic blend of past, present, and future.

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only
as it first resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.

~ Inscription over the entrance to the US Dept of Justice, Washington, DC.

CRUISE EL PASO’S SCENIC DRIVE & OVERLOOK

“Not many cities have a mountain range right in the middle of their city,
and still fewer have a spectacular drive around the rim of their mountains.
El Paso has both.”

El Paso’s spectacular Scenic Drive winds along the southern tip of the Franklin Mountains, affording visitors a stunning view of El Paso, Juarez, Mexico across the Rio Grande, and just a bit of New Mexico.

Discovering El Paso: Top FREE Things To Do - Scenic Drive | The Good Hearted Woman

To get the most out of your drive, pull over at the small park and scenic overlook for a spectacular view across El Paso and Juarez. If you are driving, look for the US flag that will likely be flapping in the relentless wind – you will find a small parking lot at its base, and an extended viewpoint that is ideal for capturing that perfect panorama.

Be aware that the drive is closed to cars on Sundays, making for a pleasant pedestrian stroll or bicycle ride. On hot days, you may welcome the ice cream truck that is often parked there.

Also, and I cannot emphasize this strongly enough: dress for the weather. In cooler weather, it can be VERY windy! And for Pete’s sake, DO NOT (as I did) wear anything that even resembles a dress. (Thank goodness for leggings!!) We visited during the cooler months, but if you are there when it’s hot, be sure to bring sun protection.

Visit El Paso – More Info

Union Depot Visitor Information Center
400 W. San Antonio

(915) 534-0661.

Mon-Fri 9 am-4 pm
Sat 9 am-2 pm

Airport Visitor Information Center
El Paso International Airport – Main Lobby

(915) 534-0658.

Mon-Fri 8 am-8 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am-5 pm

VISIT EL PASO APP: El Paso has a handy “Visit El Paso” app, available for Android or IOS. The app provides up-to-date information about things to see and do in El Paso, and you can also get more information on El Paso’s culture, attractions, hotels, and restaurants.

EL PASO GOOD EATS

As promised, here’s a quick overview of three of the places we dined while visiting El Paso. One is a sentimental favorite, one is a West Texas institution, and one is a Must Try!

Must Try: SALT + HONEY BAKERY CAFE

When I walked into Salt + Honey for the first time, I felt like I had been transported to a new hip-n-trendy Portland brunch spot! Located in El Paso’s historic Five Points, the trendy local favorite is a modern bakery and café that brings together delicious, world-inspired cuisine in an urban-style cafe setting.

Owner Maggie Asfahani has crafted an innovative menu that embraces influences from both her Lebanese heritage and her El Paso roots, and the result is slow food at its best: beautiful, surprising, comforting, and delicious.

Salt + Honey’s offerings include [below, clockwise from upper-left] Baklava Pancakes with baklava nut streusel, vanilla bean ice cream, house spiced honey; Spicy Chicken Sandwich with honey gochujang sauce and sesame ginger slaw (like many menu items, this can be ordered vegetarian as well, substituting cauliflower for the chicken); homemade baklava; and Salt + Honey Burger with angus pattie, sharp cheddar, tomato, arugula, and gochujang mayo on a brioche bun.

I prefer a savory brunch over a sweet one, so I went with the Tacos Borrachos with Michelada-braised brisket, green chile cheese hashbrowns, tomato, and cilantro-lime crema on corn tortillas. The combination was which was amazing – and easily enough for two to share. Tacos Borrachos can be ordered with an egg, too, which I think I will do if I ever get another chance to visit.

My brunch buddy, Dottie, had the Hummus Avocado Toast with tomato, arugula, zaatar, crushed red pepper, maldon salt, olive oil, on whole grain bread. So of course I had to have a bite (because Research), and found it to be amazingly tasty, with a satisfying blend of textures and fresh, bright flavors.

El Paso Good Eats: Salt + Honey, EL Paso, Texas | The Good Hearted Woman

Hummus Avocado Toast with tomato, arugula, zaatar, crushed red pepper, maldon salt, olive oil, on whole grain bread

Service is friendly, prices are reasonable, and portions are generous to say the least.

Salt + Honey serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch all day, Tuesdays through Sundays, and offers locally roasted coffee and cold-pressed juices to compliment their pastries and cakes, which are all baked in-house. Be aware that this is hopping, especially for weekend brunch, so if you visit at peak hours, plan for a bit of a wait.

Salt + Honey
801 N. Piedras St. Suite 6
El Paso, Texas

PHONE: 915.313.4907

Restaurant Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Thursday: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Friday: 7:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday-Sunday: 8:00am – 4:00pm

Sentimental Favorite: ROSA’S CANTINA

C’mon in, folks! With a blog named “The Good Hearted Woman” and a husband who listens to Marty Robbins far more than the average Joe, I couldn’t very well visit El Paso without stopping in at Rosa’s Cantina.

(NOTE: If this reference is lost on you, you are probably too young to visit Rosa’s anyway.)

From the outside, Rosa’s looks a little rough around the edges, but don’t let that put you off. Once inside, the vibe is relaxed, the margaritas are top-notch, and you can listen to Marty Robbins sing about Felina from the jukebox all day long if you have enough quarters. Our Tex-mex scored a solid Good on the foodie scale, and our service was fast and friendly.

Rosa’s Cantina
3454 Doniphan Dr
El Paso, Texas

There is a little merch corner where you can buy Rosa’s branded t-shirts, shot glasses, and the like.

Restaurant Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: Noon – 7:00 pm

Bar Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday & Saturday: 12:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 12:00 am

PHONE: 915.833.0402

Texas Institution: CATTLEMAN’S STEAKHOUSE AT INDIAN CLIFFS RANCH

Cattleman’s is not just a restaurant – it is a Destination!

Cattleman’s Steakhouse is located at Indian Cliffs Ranch, an authentic, working ranch. Indian Cliffs has served as the location for many Hollywood movies, including The Border, Lone Wolf McQuade, Courage Under Fire, Glory Road, and The Jessica Lynch Story.

Apparently, there can be long waits at the restaurant at times, but we didn’t have any trouble getting in. We arrived at opening on a weeknight [5:00pm], gave our name to the front desk, and then spent about half an hour or so wandering the grounds. (To clarify, we didn’t have to wait to be seated – we wanted to see the grounds before it got dark.)

The ranch boasts an extensive petting zoo and an exotic bird collection, and there are free-roaming peacocks everywhere you look. During the day, they offer covered wagon rides that take you around to the areas where movies have been filmed. (The tour is free but the driver does accept tips. It is a first come first serve and leaves out every hour.)

When we finally went back inside to let them know we were ready to be seated, we were taken to our table immediately.

Service was friendly, efficient, and very prompt. I ordered my steak medium rare, and it arrived perfectly cooked. My meal came with a large baked potato, a delicious pineapple coleslaw, rolls, and baked beans. Portions are very generous, so you may want to share. (Or take some home for leftovers.)

While a steakhouse may be fancy by some standards, Cattleman’s has a very casual vibe. Dress up, dress down – either way, you’ll fit right in.

Also, before you leave, be sure to stop by the Movie Tribute Wall which showcases movie posters and other memorabilia from movies that have been filmed there.

Cattleman’s Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch
3450 S Fabens Carlsbad Road
Fabens, TX 79838

(Approximately 35 minutes from Downtown El Paso)

HOURS
Monday – Friday: 5pm – 10pm
Saturday: 12:30pm – 10pm
Sunday: 12:30pm – 9pm

Phone: (915) 544-3200

And finally, this – because when you have a legit reason to post a picture of Chuck Norris on your blog, you use it…

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Discovering El Paso: Concordia Cemetery – El Paso’s “Boot Hill”

February 28 By Renée ♥ 5 Comments

Why would you want to spend your day roaming around an old, arid West Texas cemetery? At El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery, it’s all about the history.

Visiting a cemetery on vacation isn’t for everyone: I get that. It’s not something I do with any regularity myself, but when a town has cemetery like El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery and I have a few hours in my schedule, I often yield to my inner history buff.

Every Grave Holds a Story

From the perspective of one seeking to connect with West Texas history, Concordia Cemetery – known as El Paso’s “Boot Hill” – is the mother-load.

The cemetery’s fifty-two acres are the final resting places for over sixty-thousand Texans, including Buffalo Soldiers, gunslingers, Texas Rangers, and a handful of certified Old West outlaws. Concordia was designated a Texas State Historical Cemetery in 2006, and Winner of True West Magazine’s “Best Historic Cemetery” in 2010, 2013 and 2018.

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Buffalo Soldiers Monument

If you don’t stop at Concordia Cemetery for anything else, stop for this.

Just inside the main gate of Concordia Cemetery, you will find a beautiful monument of bronze plaques, granite memorial markers, and native stone dedicated to Buffalo Soldiers – war veterans from four regiments of African American soldiers who served on the frontier after the end of the Civil War.

The remains of forty-some Buffalo Soldiers are buried at Concordia, and the Buffalo Soldier Memorial commemorates both their military service and their contribution to the history of Texas.

It is believed that the name “Buffalo Soldier” began with the Cheyenne warriors in 1867. The Black Soldiers were ferocious and courageous in battle, even when outnumbered. Out of Respect, the Cheyenne referred to these hard-fighting Black men as “Buffalo Soldiers” – reportedly because their hair resembled that of the revered Bison. Because the Buffalo was a sacred animal to the Indians, the calvarymen accepted the title with great pride. The name became a highly respected American Legacy.

– Inscription on the Buffalo Soldiers Memorial, Concordia Cemetery, El Paso, Texas

I found this memorial inscription heartrending.

By my skill the West was tamed but today few know my name. From the plantations of Southern America we came to stake the plains of Texas.

The muddy waters of the Rio Grande we built forts and staked our claims under the command of Grierson and Hatch, we spilled our blood in pursuit of outlaws and indians to catch the 59th minute of the final hour for the honor of it.

We towered the Souix, Cheyenne, Comanche, and Apache bet their life against the Blacks in blue. And we in dress blues at reveille, boots and saddles and the Yellow Rose of Texas made us all that we could be.

After the battle, we became the eyes and ears of the pioneers from slavery to soldiering that took hundreds of years. They called our homes ghettos, but our trials are lauded by sonneteers – the Blacks in Blue, all volunteers. By many names I am called: Negro, Boy, Colored, and Soldier all.

In defense of freedom, we forsook all to heed the shouts of the wall. A hundred years ago and many fallen comrades we pursued Santana in Blue we were clad for the honor of it. And the lives we lost, we were sad. Darker the blue, and the Buffalo Soldiers, too.

We did what we had to do, for God and country. We are Americans, too.

– Inscription on the Buffalo Soldiers Memorial, Concordia Cemetery, El Paso, Texas

Beyond the Buffalo Soldier Memorial, much of the remaining cemetery landscape stands in bleak contrast. There are no flowing gardens or lush green lawns: just acre after acre after acre of regal concrete memorials, crumbling stone markers, and lonely, weatherbeaten wooden crosses.

While official literature suggests that at least sixty-thousand are interred in Concordia, nobody is really sure how many people lay buried beneath sandstone or wooden markers long decayed by the relentless dust storms, beating hot sun, and droughts of West Texas.

Everyone has a Story

This solitary marker called out to me.

What brought you joy, Antonio? How did you live? When did you die? Clearly, someone loves you. In my mind’s eye, I see a lonely figure hunched over a rough-hewn board late into the night, painstakingly carving his grief into each letter of your name. Your brother? Your father?

Who mourns you today, Antonio?

When you stop to think about the People who lay beneath, you start to understand that every grave – prince or pauper – holds a story.

On a lighter note, if I see your gravestone and your name is Cleopatra, I’m going to take a picture. I’ll probably make up a back-story about you, too. It’s going to happen.

Concordia Cemetery is home to a surprisingly broad assembly of folks. There sections in the cemetery dedicated to a wide variety of racial, national, religious, and fraternal groups, including:

Mexican Revolutionary Figures
Chinese Section
Jewish Section
Catholic Section
Mormon Section
Masonic Section
Masonic Veterans Monument
Jesuit Priests Section
Grand Army Republic Veterans
Oddfellows Section

One particularly poignant section of the cemetery is the “Infant Nursery,” filled with unmarked graves for babies who were victims of the Influenza epidemic of 1917-18.

Famous “Residents” of Concordia Cemetery

Notable burials in Concordia include:

James Biggs, for whom Biggs Army Airfield is named.
Moses Carson, younger brother of Kit Carson.
Benjamin S. Dowell, first mayor of El Paso.
John Selman (1839-1896), gunslinger, killer of John Wesley Hardin.
Ernest St. Leon (d. 1898), Texas ranger.

By far, however, the most famous individual interred at Concordia is notorious Wild West gunslinger John Wesley Hardin. Depending on perspective, Hardin is remembered as either a “a friend to the poor” or a murderous brute.

Known as a cowboy, gunslinger, poker player, and later in life a lawyer, Hardin courted trouble most of his life. He reportedly killed his first man when he was fifteen, and claimed to have killed forty-two men throughout his life, though that figure may have been inflated… like his ego. (And on that note, I’m going with murderous brute.)

To dissuade visitors from taking souvenirs (which apparently was quite a problem for awhile), the grave of John Wesley Hardin now fenced and secured by a lock. It also has a nice Texas State Historical Marker detailing Hardin’s life.

Today, many of those who visit Hardin leave trinkets at his gravesite. When we visited, we saw shot glasses, coins, bottle caps, and cartridge shells scattered inside the iron-barred enclosure.

A walking tour of Concordia Cemetery can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more. It all depends on what you want to take away.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Bring a camera, drinking water, and good walking shoes.
The terrain is desolate, with little to no shade, so it can get very hot, particularly in the summer. Wear sunscreen and/or carry a parasol. (Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.)
Walking sticks are available at the cemetery.
Texas Red Ants are not a myth: they will crawl up your shoes and bite you if you stand in one place too long. Keep moving.
Guided night “Ghost Tours” are available if you’re into that kind of thing.

Concordia Cemetery

3700 E Yandell Dr.

El Paso, Texas

915-842-8200

Map of Concordia Cemetery

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Discovering El Paso: 3 Must-see Stops on the Historic Mission Trail

January 17 By Renée ♥ 12 Comments

The El Paso Mission Trail traces a nine-mile segment of the oldest road in North America – the historic El Camino Real [The Royal Road ], taking travelers on a journey that passes by three Texas missions and through 400 years of history.

When you think of West Texas history, what first comes to mind?

Perhaps it’s the Spanish Conquistadores, who arrived on the banks of the Rio Grande back in 1598. Or maybe it’s The Alamo (remember?), or the rich, colorful Mexican influence, or the relentless floods in first half the early Nineteenth Century that changed the course of the Rio Grande.

Or maybe everything you know about West Texas happened back in 1957 at Rosa’s Cantina. (Let’s save that one for another post though, shall we?)

Or maybe it’s El Paso’s historic Mission Trail. Have you heard of it?

The El Paso Mission Trail traces a segment of the oldest (and at one time, the longest) road in North America – the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro [The Royal Road of the Interior]. The short, nine-mile route takes travelers on a journey that passes by three missions and about 400 years of history.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend about five hours exploring the Mission Trail with my dear friend Dottie, where we got a crash course on the intriguing, tumultuous history of three of Texas’ oldest mission communities.

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Socorro

Socorro Mission

Our first stop on the El Paso Mission Trail was at Socorro Mission, the second oldest mission in the state, and home of the oldest relics in El Paso.

Piro Indians built Socorro’s first permanent adobe church in 1691 in what was then Socorro, Mexico. Originally dedicated as Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion de los Piros del Socorro [Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Piros of Socorro], the exterior of Socorro Mission represents a thunderbird, while the interior is in the shape of a cross.

By 1766, the Socorro Mission was being referred to as La Purísima Concepción del Socorro. A series of floods between 1829 and 1840 changed the course of the Rio Grande from north of Socorro to south of the townsite. When the river was declared the US-Mexico boundary, Socorro became part of United States.

The original adobe chapel was damaged during the flooding and later rebuilt about half a mile to the west in 1843. The restored chapel retains the original hand -carved cottonwood and cypress vigas [support beams] from the original structure.

The cross-beams in the ceiling of the Socorro Mission are recognized as the oldest original relics in Texas.

Socorro Mission
328 S. Nevarez Rd.
El Paso, TX 79927

Hours: 10am-4pm (M-F); 9am-6pm (Sat); 9am-1pm (Sun)
Phone: (915) 859-7718

San Elizario

San Elizario Presidio Chapel

San Elizario Chapel and Presidio was established in 1789 as Spanish defense against foreign powers and Indian raids. The flood of 1829 destroyed the chapel, and a new one was built with new adobe bricks from the original Presidio walls in the 1840’s. It continues to be used as an active church to this day.

The present chapel decor dates from 1944 when the church was repainted to honor local soldiers who fought in World War 11. Beautiful stained-glass windows depict flowers, patriotic symbols, and religious symbols.

Note the colorful, decorative, pressed-tin ceiling, and that stunning interwoven hardwood floor.

The San Elizario Chapel was simply beautiful. Dottie and I loved that each contributor to the 1944 redecoration is listed on a mural in the back of the chapel. When you visit, be sure to take some time to fully appreciate all the finely painted images and beautiful woodworking created by those talented, faithful hands.

San Elizario Chapel
1556 San Elizario Rd.
San Elizario, TX 79849

Hours: 7am-9:30am (Mon-Fri)
Open for Mass (Sat/Sun)
Phone: (915) 851-2333

San Elizario Historic District

San Elizario’s Historic District is literally a stone’s throw from the chapel. There you will find restaurants, gift shops, six art galleries, 22 art studios,18 Historic sites, the San Elizario Chapel, The Presidio (fort), the Veterans’ Memorial, and the Old El Paso County jail, and a larger-than-life statue of Billy the Kid.

According to legend, famed outlaw Billy the Kid freed the only man to ever escape from the old El Paso County Jail, in late November 1876.

Be sure to stop by the Los Portales Museum & Info Center, adjacent to the San Elizario Chapel. The docent who was working there the day we visited was both passionate and well-informed about the history of the San Elizario, and excited to share her knowledge with us.

The museum, which is housed in an 1850’s Territorial-style building, features exhibits celebrating San Elizario’s rich and colorful history. Among other things, you’ll learn about the real “First Thanksgiving,” the Spanish presidio, the San Elizario Salt War of 1877, and the first county seat of El Paso county.

Los Portales Museum & Info Center
Admission is free
Hours: 10am2pm (T-Sat); Noon-4pm (Sun); Closed (M)

San Elizario Walking Tour

Ysleta

Ysleta Mission

Ysleta Mission – the oldest mission in Texas – was our final stop on the El Paso Mission Trail. Originally established in 1613 in what is now New Mexico, Ysleta Mission [officially, Corpus Christi de la Ysleta del Sur] was relocated to El Paso in 1680. That was just the beginning of its turbulent history.

After rampaging floodwaters destroyed the El Paso chapel in 1742, and again in 1829, the adobe-walled building was move to its present location 1851. It was rebuilt once again in 1907, after a fire destroyed most of the structure.

The current mission was built by the Tigua Indian community, and now resides in what is recognized as the oldest community in Texas. The Tiguas, who achieved official reservation status in 1968, changed the name of their church to Mission San Antonio de los Tiguas, in 1980 in recognition of their patron saint, St. Anthony.

Today Ysleta Mission is considered the second oldest continually active parish in the United States.

Ysleta Mission
131 S. Zaragosa Rd.
El Paso, TX 79907

Hours: 7am-4pm (M-Sat); Closed (Sun)
Phone: (915) 859-9848

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center

Practically around the corner from Ysleta Mission, you will find the Tigua Indian Cultural Center. The Tigua Indians are the oldest permanent settlers in Texas. In 1968, the State of Texas and the Federal Government recognized the tribe as a sovereign nation.

The cultural center aims to celebrate the rich culture of the local Tigua Indians through history, art, and dance in a variety of exhibits and events.

Dottie and I visited the during the week, so there wasn’t much going on beyond the static exhibits; however, we learned that on weekends, the Cultural Center stages social dance demonstrations in the courtyard; and on Saturdays, visitors can watch bread baking and taste fresh samples.

Tigua Indian Cultural Center
305 Yaya Lane
El Paso, Texas 79907

Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed: Monday and Tuesday

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center, El Paso, Texas | The Good Hearted Woman

This bronze statue depicts a Tigua woman named Nestora Granillo Piarote. It stands in front of the Tigua Indian Cultural Center.

Good Eats on the Mission Trail

Somewhere between San Elizario and Ysleta, Dottie and I found ourselves feeling hungry and wishing we had a little something. The brunch spot in San Elizario at which we had planned to eat had been unexpectedly closed, so we Yelped our way to this little family owned hole-in-the-wall in Socorro.

We arrived at Quesadillas Estilo Villa Ahumada just before noon, and were two of only a few in the dining area. The restaurant itself is nothing fancy, but it is clean, comfortable, and affordable. Oh, and the food is awesome, too.

Dottie and I sat down in a booth and looked through the laminated menu for a few minutes. After much discussion, I decided on the Gorditas de la Maiz. We ordered, and then settle into our booth to talk.

Mission Trail Good Eats, El Paso, Texas | The Good Hearted Woman

Gorditas de la Maiz

Our food arrived in less than 10 minutes – just in time for us to look up from our conversation to see the long line at the order counter that had formed since we first arrived.

Tables filled quickly with faded coveralls and worn Wranglers, dusty t-shirts, and heavy work boots: confirmation that we’d stumbled into a local working-class hot spot. We could expect reasonable prices, hearty portions, and most importantly, dependably good food.

That is exactly what we got, too. My gorditas were crisp on the outside and tender inside, and not a bit greasy. Both Dottie and I commented on the the refried beans, which were exceptionally good. (Do you know tasty refried beans have to be for someone to take note of them? Yes: they were that good.) Our meals were fresh, hearty, and delicious; and the portions were so generous that I ended up taking half my meal home to eat later at the hotel.

Quesadillas Estilo Villa Ahumada – 2
131 Horizon Blvd, Ste 5
Socorro, Texas 79927

Phone: (915) 790-0456

Final Thoughts

While El Paso may not be the top destination on your Travel Bucket List, if you get the chance to visit, take it! And if you go, the El Paso Mission Trail should definitely be on your itinerary.

Additional Information: El Paso Mission Trail

Notably, there is a fourth mission on the Mission Trail – Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission – located just across the US-Mexico border in Juarez, Mexico. Unfortunately, Dottie and I had neither the time nor the passports needed to make that visit on our trip; however, if you find yourself in EL Paso with both on hand, it might be worth a trip.

Additional Information:

All of the missions are open to the public, with exception of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is only open for special occasions.

El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau
One Civic Center Plaza
El Paso, Texas 79901

Phone: (915) 534-0600
Toll-free: (800) 351-6024
FAX (9150 534-0686

Mission Valley Visitors Information Center
9065 Alameda Avenue
El Paso Texas 79907

Hours: 9am – 4pm (Mon-Fri); 9am – 3pm (Sat/Sun)
Phone: (915) 851-9997

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Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know

November 8 By Renée ♥ 17 Comments

As it turned out, photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was not only a shot of a lifetime, but a life-lesson as well.

Full disclosure: Before we arrived on the scene, I had no idea that photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was such a big deal. Our photog-daughter, who organized our trip, simply told us that we were going to a really cool place to take sunrise pictures. Since she had been to this location a number of times before, I didn’t do my routine pre-trip research. Luckily, it all worked out great and I’m excited to share our adventure and tips for photographing Mesa Arch with you. But before I do that, I want to share a little story.

^{(Feel free to scroll down if stories aren’t your thing.)}

Photography Lesson: The Shot of a Lifetime

We arrived at the parking lot at the Mesa Arch Trailhead about an hour before the first hint of sunrise shrugged up the horizon.

Mr B and I made the short hike to Mesa Arch in about eight minutes. Our (mostly adult) kids were way ahead of us, and as we arrived, we found them momentary stopping under the arch for the requisite selfie.

As we maneuvered the uneven ground between the trail access and the arch to meet them, I passed an older man (older than me, at least) who was visibly agitated. His ire seemed to be directed at our kids, and I had no idea why.

“Get outta there!” he shouted at them, waving a hand in the air like an umpire calling out a batter. They were already moving away from the arch before he called out.

“Damn kids, trying to ruin my shot,” he muttered to me, by way of explanation. He had no way of know they were with us.

I should have just let it go, but I couldn’t help myself. “They’re really good kids,” I said quietly as we passed. (Sometimes I cannot make my inner mama bear shut up no matter how hard I try.)

He paused and looked back, face pursed, “They were going to ruin my shot.”

“Seems they were just catching the moment,” I replied, nodding toward the now empty Arch.

As I passed him, a young woman joined him on the trail. I overheard him say to her, “Damn kids were going to ruin my…”

“Dad…” she interrupted, using the same tender tone I once used with my own aging father in times of frustration.

“But I’ve been waiting a lifetime to take this shot.” I heard his voice break ever so slightly.

“I know, Dad.” She patted his shoulder, and his face softened. Together they went to set up before the inevitable crowd arrived.

We spent the next hour watching the crowd gather and set up. I kept an eye and ear on the old man, who seemed to snap to life when the camera equipment emerged. I watched him carefully set up his tripod, and adjust it so that he had a prime, unobstructed shot right through the arch. I watched him lean in to his daughter as they considered the optimal angles and adjusted their camera settings. By the time the haze on the mountains started glowing, he had every detail plotted out.

I was surprised when, as the sun began to rise over the mesa and light the La Sal mountain range beyond the arch, the old man motioned me over.

“You should shoot through right here,” he instructed. And then he stepped aside to share his carefully selected space with me. “See,” he pointed, “you can get a perfect shot of the cones rising up from the mesa right here.”

“You know,” he said, his eyes intent on the glowing skyline. “I’ve been waiting a lifetime to get this shot.”

I nodded, grateful for the lesson.

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Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know

Arrive Early

Set your alarm so that you can arrive at the trailhead at least an hour before sunrise. This will allow you to catch the first glow on the horizon. It also gives you plenty of time to adjust your camera settings, and figure out where you want to be when that much-anticipated sunstar pops through the arch.

Note that the trail into Mesa Arch, which will take you about ten minutes, is very dark before sunrise, so take something to light your way. A headlamp or flashlight are both good choices. Sure, you can use your phone, but don’t blame me if you run out of juice in the process.

Stake Your Claim, But Be Flexible

Crowds are inevitable. Arriving early will help you get ahead of them and allow you to find “your spot.” However, be flexible; if you manage to secure a prime location, be compassionate to those who didn’t. (Karma, my friends.)

Take a Tripod

A tripod is helpful for photographing Mesa Arch in two ways: first, it allows you to stabilize your camera in the low light conditions and take awesome pictures. Second, it helps you stake your claim.

There is something magical about a tripod placed. I can’t offer any guarantees here, but for the most part, people seem to respect the space a tripod takes up and won’t move it, even if you aren’t hovering over it every second. With your tripod securing your little square of Mesa Arch real estate, you can move around a bit without feeling like someone is going to “steal your spot.”

Change Up Your Space

If you watch the light when you are photographing Mesa Arch, it’s difficult to take a bad picture. Doing so, however, will require you to move occasionally.

Look Around

There are so many amazing shots at this location, and many do not include the Arch at all. If I had only been paying attention to the Arch itself, I would have missed this one entirely:

And this one.

And this one. (Those are two of our kids in profile on the left.)

Stay Late

If you don’t heed any other information here, do this. The biggest surprise I got while photographing Mesa Arch was the number of people who snapped the money-shot – that sunstar coming through the arch – and then immediately packed up and left. It’s literally like watching the first pop of fireworks on the 4th of July and leaving before the rest of the show.

Why would you take all the time and effort to get up early and drive out into the desert, just to snap one or two good shots and walk away? I don’t get it. My best advice: stay at least 45 minutes after you see that sunstar.

Be Alert

It just so happened that our visit to Canyonlands fell on the morning of July 4^th. Just as we were heading back on the trail to return to our car, I turned back one last time to take in larger scene behind us.

At that moment, someone standing on the rise next to the Arch rose up and stretched out, revealing the American flag they’d had wrapped around them. They then turned and hopped down to join their friends on the ground below. The whole movement took less than five seconds, but somehow I managed to capture it. The image is below, and is one of my favorites from this trip.

Finally, Put the Camera Down

There are two maxims I strive daily to follow. (I’m not always successful, but I try.) The first is, Be Kind. The second, Be Present. That means putting everything down and just being there in the place with the people. Take some time to put your camera down, and take in the spectacular show that the universe is putting on for you.

More information on photographing Mesa Arch:

Mesa Arch Photo Tips [Fototripper] – This post has some good technical info, including recommended equipment and panorama tips.
Mesa Arch Sunrise Photography Tips for Boomer Travelers [My Itchy Travel Feet]
Mesa Arch: The Southwest’s Best Photo Op? [Firefall Photography] – Great info on camera settings.

Mesa Arch at Sunrise: The Shot of a Lifetime 🏜 #photographytips #CanyonlandsNPS #canyonlands #mesaarch Click To Tweet

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How to Survive on the Delicate Arch Trail

September 25 By Renée ♥ 14 Comments

The Delicate Arch Trail is challenging, and totally worth the effort! Go early, take your time, and bring twice as much water as you think you need.

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Iconic to Utah, Delicate Arch is the most famous – and most photographed – natural arch in the world. Mr B and I recently braved the three-mile desert hike to get up close and personal with Delicate Arch, and Wow! The payoff was totally worth the effort!

FUN FACTS: Delicate Arch stands about 60 feet tall at its apex. The light opening beneath the arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in Arches National Park. Historically, it has been given many names, including a couple of my personal favorites: “Cowboy’s Chaps” and “Old Maid’s Bloomers.”

The term “Delicate” first appeared in a January 1934 article about the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, which described it as “the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area.” [National Park Service]

Hiking the Delicate Arch Trail

Distance: 3.2 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 480 feet (146m)
Difficulty: Moderate, but could be strenuous on a hot summer day
Trail: Well-maintained, mostly slickrock
Maps: USGS Arches National Park; Trails Illustrated Arches National Park

NPS WARNING: It is critical to consider weather conditions no matter what time of year you plan to hike the Delicate Arch Trail. Take into consideration summer heat, winter ice, and your own health and fitness before embarking on this hike. Rangers frequently rescue people who underestimated the trail’s difficulty.

Can I survive this hike?

The Delicate Arch Trail can be challenging. If you are hesitant about whether or not to go, let me offer this by way of encouragement: As Peter Pan’s Wendy so delicately puts it, I am “ever so much more than twenty,” and I carry significantly more weight than I should. And…

I MADE IT!!!

Best Tips for Hiking Delicate Arch Trail | The Good Hearted Woman

“Mom, hold your hat and pose like a blogger!” [Olivia Huskey Photography]

It helped immensely that I had an awesome cheering section to keep me motivated and hydrated. (Thanks, Livy, Ben & Em!) However, if you are in good health and can walk three miles without issue, this is a hike you should definitely put in your back pocket.

Success on the Delicate Arch Trail depends on abiding by a few key tenets:

WATER

Take water. Lots of water. More water than you think you will need.

It should come as no surprise that hiking in the desert is entirely different from hiking through a forest. After just minutes on the sandstone trail, I found myself already feeling parched as the dry Utah air sucked all the moisture from my body.

Water is not available anywhere on the trail, so be sure to bring plenty or fill up at the Visitors’ Center before you set out. Even when temperatures are moderate, the park recommends taking 2-3 quarts of water per person.

I feel as though I need to emphasize this point more zealously, because I know we see warnings like this all the time, but sometimes we take them for granted. As in, oh sure, of course I’ll bring plenty of water. What kind of a trail-donkey do you take me for?!

Well folks, I’ve been camping and hiking since before I could walk, so taking an ample supply of water on the trail is second nature. However, this was my first real desert hike in the summer, and less than halfway into the hike it was apparent that I did not bring enough water. If it weren’t for my traveling companions, I might have been in serious trouble. Under the circumstance, it was merely humbling and instructive: had I been alone on the trail, it could have been disastrous.

My Cheerleaders!

NOTE: The NPS suggests taking 2-3 quarts of water per person on this hike, and one gallon of water per day in the park, even when temperatures are cooler.

SHOES

This is not a “flip-flop” hike. The trail is wide and flat, and we found the sandstone surprisingly “grippy”: walking on it was a bit like walking on a path made of medium-grain sandpaper. Nevertheless, it is crucial to wear solid, supportive shoes with good traction.

That being said, I am well-known in our family for my ability to trip over invisible cracks in the sidewalk, and I did just fine in my tennis shoes. I did, however, use my daughter’s camera monopod as a walking stick much of the time, which was especially useful as we were crossing the vast, flat sandstone slab. If I were to do this hike again, I would definitely bring a walking stick or trekking poles with me.

Note that the NPS recommends traction devices (i.e., ice cleats) during the winter months, as the final 70 yards of trail are often ice-covered.

SUN PROTECTION

Desert. Sun. No Shade.

The sun on the Delicate Arch Trail trail can be blistering and unrelenting. Shady spots are few and far between. No matter what time of year you hike the Delicate Arch Trail, it is critical to protect any exposed skin with sunblock and wear a brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face and prevent your head from burning.

One-third of the way into the hike, we desperately needed a shade-break.

TRAIL SIGNS

Along the Delicate Arch Trail, you will notice a number of strategically placed piles of rocks. These “cairns” have been placed there by National Park rangers to mark the way to go. If you are unsure of where to go on the trail, just look for the next cairn and go in that direction. Under no circumstances should you build your own cairn or knock an existing one down.

TIMING

Sunrise is just as beautiful as sunset, much cooler, and always less busy. You might find several hundred people at Delicate Arch for sunset, but just a handful for sunrise. Try to enter the park before 7 am. Get an early start and beat the crowds. [National Park Service]

Setting out from the Arches National Park Visitors Center, we hit the Delicate Arch Trail just before 8:00am (which was about an hour later than we had hoped). By the time we reached Delicate Arch an hour or so later, the heat was already quite uncomfortable, and the crowds were starting to get heavy.

The image above was taken at about 9:30am, when the crowds were relatively light.

If you want to photograph Delicate Arch in all its glory, with the sun hitting all those amazing bands of red and rust just right, you’ll have to brave the crowds at sunset, which I’m told can be ridiculously huge.

Hitting the Trail

The Wolfe Ranch marks the beginning of the Delicate Arch Trail. This homestead was built and used by Civil War veteran John Wesley Wolfe and his family of five from 1898 to 1910, when they packed up and returned to their home in Ohio.

Image Credit: Don Graham (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Just beyond the Wolfe homestead, a bridge takes you across the Salt Wash and onto the main trail.

At one point, the trail becomes a huge flat slab of sandstone, and you will have to follow the cairns (or the crowds) to find your way.

As you make your way across this wide, shadeless span, the heat can become almost unbearable by midday.

See that big flat rock face in top third of the image above? See those teeny-tiny dots on it going from the bottom to the top? Those are People! TONS of People!

A little more than three-quarters of the way up the Delicate Arch Trail, you will find what I am calling Giant’s Grin. (Totally made that up: I have no idea what it is really called.) I couldn’t find this listed in any of the Arches National Park literature I could find, but it it one of the coolest places we saw at the park.

Once you arrive here, you can breath a sigh of relief, because your destination is just around the corner! Before you continue though, take a minute to enjoy this mammoth formation and the stunning photo op it offers.

Just beyond the Giant’s Grin, the trails begins to narrow and hug a towering vertical ridge. The views as you make your way around the ridge are stunning.

Many thanks to Olivia Huskey Photography for taking this epic shot. It’s my one of my very favorites from our time in Arches National Park: I love the story it tells.

Then you round the last curve, and just like that, Delicate Arch is in front of you.

You know that sensation you get when you take a cold drink on a hot day and the liquid flows down your throat and splashes into your empty stomach, and for just a second, the cool washing through you is pure bliss? Rounding that ridge and seeing Delicate Arch right there in front of us was a lot like that.

Our Em.

To get to the trailhead: From the Arches National Park Visitor Center, drive 12.3 miles up Park Avenue and turn right. Continue an additional 1.2 miles and turn left into the parking area for Delicate Arch Trail.

Trailhead address: Arches National Park, Moab, UT 84532
Trailhead coordinates: 38.73565, -109.5206 (38° 44′ 08.35″N 109° 31′ 14.13″W)

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7 Stunning Reasons to Visit Arches National Park

September 17 By Renée ♥ 21 Comments

Mother Nature is a master sculptor and in no place is that more evident than at Arches National Park.

― Stefanie Payne, A Year in the National Parks: The Greatest American Road Trip

When I first set eyes on Arches National Park, it reminded me of what the “alien planet” sets on the original Star Trek series might have looked like if they had had a bigger budget. As we traveled through the park, I was fascinated by all of the artistic inspiration and rich color painted across the desolate high desert landscape. Everywhere I looked, sandstone towers reached and arches bowed; their orange, rust, and red bands constantly shifting in the sun’s sweeping path.

Located in central eastern Utah near the Colorado border, Arches National Park offers visitors a front row seat to some of the most stunning sandstone formations in the world. Over 2,000 documented sandstone arches within the park’s boundaries – more than any other place on the planet. (An arch, by definition, is “an opening in the rock that stretches at least three feet in one direction.”)

Arches National Park has been on my bucket list for some time now, and this summer I finally had the chance to experience it. The middle of summer may not be the optimal time to visit central Utah, but sometimes you just have to grab an opportunity when it’s in front of you, right? (The best time to visit in is the fall or spring.)

Here are seven places in Arches National Park that Mr B and I found especially awe-inspiring:

1. Delicate Arch

[Delicate Arch Hike – 2.6 mile RT/ Moderate to Strenuous]

Delicate Arch, iconic to Utah, is the most famous – and most photographed – arch in the world.

There is a viewpoint along the park road from which drivers can a good view of Delicate Arch. However, if it is at all within your abilities, we strongly encourage you to take the hike to get an up close, personal look. (I’ll be writing more about the Delicate Arch Hike and how to survive it in an upcoming post.)

Getting to Delicate Arch requires a moderately challenging hike, but it is totally worth the effort! Plan for at least 2 1/2 hours to make the hike, go early to avoid the heat and crowds, and don’t even think of hitting the trail without taking twice as much water as you think you need.

Pro Tip: This image was taken at about 9:30am. If you want to photograph Delicate Arch in all its glory, with the sun hitting all those amazing bands of red and rust just right, you’ll have to brave the crowds at sunset.

2. Giant’s Grin

[On the Delicate Arch Trail]

Full disclosure: I totally made that name up.

This place isn’t listed in any of the Arches National Park literature I could find, but it it one of the coolest places we saw at the park. (Literally. In the midmorning heat, it offered us some much needed shade.) I’m sure the ANP Rangers have a name for it, but I don’t know what it is. Whatever it’s called, you can find it a little more than three-quarters of the way up the Delicate Arch trail.

What I do know is that when you arrive at this landmark, you should be smiling, because your destination is just around the corner! Before you continue though, take a minute to enjoy this mammoth formation and the stunning photo op it offers.

One Day in Arches National Park {Moab, Utah}

If you look closely, you can see a couple of our kids cooling off in the recess.

(Did you think of a better name for this ^^^ formation? Leave us a note in the comments!)

3. Three Gossips & Sheep Rock

I don’t know why, but these particular formations just made me smile. I suppose it tickles me that the inspiration for naming Three Gossips is just so universal – nearly everyone has aunties or uncles or siblings or friends who could be those three. And who doesn’t love a giant stone sheep in the desert?

7 Stunning Reasons to Visit Arches National Park {Moab, Utah} | The Good Hearted Woman

The Three Gossips & Sheep Rock

Three Gossips stands about 350 feet at its tallest wall and sits within a grouping of sandstone towers known as the “Courthouse Towers cluster” that also includes The Argon Tower, The Organ, Tower of Babel, Sheep Rock, and The Lamb.

4. Courthouse Tower

The arches may get the most press, but this majestic monolith took my breath away. This image was taken from a roadside pull-out: no hike required.

Courthouse Towers - One Day in Arches National Park {Moab, Utah}

You know how every once and awhile you take a shot that makes you feel like the photography gods are on your side that day?

5. Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock stands an impressive 128 feet tall, and appears as though it is defying gravity. However, it is more a case of erosion wearing away at the base where the 3,600 ton boulder meets the pedestal than any epic balancing act. Eventually, Balanced Rock will come tumbling down as the erosional process continues to shape the landscape. (Sometimes science really works hard to poke a hole in your imagination balloon, doesn’t it?)

Balanced Rock can be seen from the park road, or you can make the very short hike around the formation’s base to get a close-up perspective.

6. The Windows Section

The Windows Section contains a large concentration of arches and is one of the most scenic locations in the park.

Formations in this area include North Window, Turret Arch, and Double Arch, Garden of Eden, Elephant Butte, and Parade of Elephants. (Though, truth be told, I haven’t got the fainted idea which on is which.)

7. Double Arch

Double Arch is a Must-do when visiting Arches National Park! This spectacular flowing formation can be found in the Windows section of the park. Double Arch consists of two arches that share the same stone foundation for both of their outer legs.

The sandy trail to Double Arch is very short and ADA compliant, which means it is considered barrier free. (Barrier-free trails may contain minor obstacles, steeper grades and temporary washouts.)

Taking the walk out to Double Arch is a lesson in perspective: the interlocking arches seem to grow to massive proportions as you get closer, and by the time you climb up into the arches themselves, you’ll finally know what those ants in your ant farm felt like.

Travel Information

Arches National Park Map

Arches National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park’s Visitor Center is located just inside the park, near the main entrance, with hours varying seasonally.

Park Entry Fees and Passes

Vehicle Entrance to Park – $25 (good for 7 days). This fee includes all occupants of a vehicle.
Individual Entrance to Arches – $10 (good for 7 days). This fee applies to bicycles and walk-ins (per person).
Motorcycle Entrance – $15 per motorcycle (good for 7 days).
America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passis honored. Cost is $80. This is the best deal for people intending to visit multiple parks within a year’s time. You can get NP Parks Pass online or at the park entrance.
Southeast Utah Parks Pass
$50 valid through the month of purchase. Admits 1 private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder to Arches and Canyonlands national parks, and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.

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An Afternoon on the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 2}

September 4 By Renée ♥ 11 Comments

Stretching 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville Tennessee, the historic Natchez Trace Parkway takes travelers on a journey through history; from Native American burial mounds to Civil War sites to lush nature trails and sweeping vistas.

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[This is the second in our series of posts about our day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi from Memphis, Tennessee. To read about our adventures in Tupelo, please visit Part 1.]

After spending the day in Tupelo, we decided to make our way back to Memphis via the Natchez Trace Parkway.

What is the Natchez Trace Parkway?

The Natchez Trace is an ancient trail that stretches 444 miles, from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, and takes travelers by everything from Native American burial mounds to Civil War sites to lush nature trails and green, sweeping vistas.

The original Trace path was carved by migrating prehistoric wildlife making their way between prairie lands and the Mississippi River. Later, Native American tribes picked up the Trace, and in time everyone from conquistadores, trappers, and boatmen to mail carriers and militia was using the Trace as a primary trade route through the region.

The Natchez Trace Parkway follows the path of the original Natchez Trace. Established as a National Park in 1938, the Parkway has since been designated an “All American Road & Scenic Byway.” (A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six “intrinsic qualities”: archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The Natchez Trace qualifies in all six.)

Traveler Notes: Mr B and I drove the 50-mile section of the Natchez Trace that connects Tupelo with US-72 W in Alabama. In terms of driving time, taking the Trace versus driving directly back to Memphis from Tupelo added about an hour and a half to our trip. We also spent at least three extra hours exploring the stops along the way. Taking the byway was totally worth the extra time and effort: my only regret is that we didn’t have more time to spend taking in more of the route.

Mile 266.0 – Parkway Visitor Center and Headquarters

We got on the Natchez Trace Parkway as we left Tupelo, stopping first at the Parkway Visitors Center and Headquarters, where we got an overview of the Natchez Trace and picked up some brochures and a map. [Specifically, we highly recommend picking up a Natchez Trace Parkway map provided by the National Park Service, which details each of the mile markers and stops along the Trace. We found it invaluable.]

Inside the Visitor Center you will find a park Ranger-staffed information desk, a small book and souvenir store, an auditorium, and a museum about the Natchez Trace. The Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center has an orientation film and a number of informative interpretive displays as well.

Official Natchez Trace map [PDF], showing the entire length of the Trace from Mississippi to Tennessee.
Mississippi to Alabama map [PDF], which includes all of the sites in this post.

Mile 269.4 – Old Trace & Confederate Gravesites

This was our first stop on the Natchez Trace. There is a short, relatively easy uphill walk from the parking lot to the Unknown Confederate Gravesite.

Much of the Old Trace had been abandoned by the start of the Civil War. However, the war did leave its mark on the Trace as it did upon the rest of the South. The soldiers marched, camped and fought along portions of this historic old road.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

As we walked the short path to these thirteen “Unknown Confederate” graves, I felt as if the very air around us was vibrating. It was probably just my imagination (or possibly those relentless Southern mosquitos).

That these men died on the wrong side of history is not up for debate here. Nevertheless, these thirteen graves stand in silent testament to the sacrifices made on every side in deadliest war in American history.

These thirteen men (boys, more likely) were someone’s son, or father, or brother, or lover. We don’t know how or why they ended up in this remote clearing far from home, nor do we know what was in each one’s mind and heart. We will never know. All we know is that these thirteen did not survive the fight.

Mile 275.2 – Dogwood Valley

Flowering dogwood is a common small tree throughout the eastern United States from Maine and Michigan south to Texas and Florida. Here the Natchez Trace passes through a small valley with an unusual stand of large dogwood trees. An easy 15 minute walk takes you along a sunken portion of the Old Trace and through the small wooded area named Dogwood Valley.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

Dogwood Valley provided us with another short, easy hike. I didn’t get any good pictures of the landscape; mostly because I was busy chasing this darn butterfly – who would not hold still for me no matter how much I pleaded with him!

Mile 278.4 – Twentymile Bottom Overlook

There are a multitude of swamps, streams, and rivers along the lower regions on the Trace, and Twentymile Bottom is one such wetland. This particular stop struck Mr B and I both as a bit anticlimactic: as visitors from one of the greenest corners of the US, this spot was just another vista, and an overgrown one at that. Pretty, yes, but not particularly life-altering.

Traveler Notes: If you are driving a larger RV or pulling a trailer, you might want to consider skipping this stop. The overlook is at the end of a short road with no loop at the end, making it difficult for larger vehicles to turn around.

Mile 286.7 – Pharr Mounds

According to the National Park Service, Pharr Mounds is the largest and most important archaeological site in northern Mississippi. Built by Native American tribes 2,000 to 1,800 years ago, Pharr Mounds is a complex of eight mounds, spread over 90 acres. The mounds, or artificial hills, were built to either hold structures or for burial grounds.

You can only see three of the mounds from the parking lot, and there are no trails out to the mounds. The highest mound is only eighteen feet tall, while others have eroded to the point where it may be difficult to even identify them as hills.

Traveler Notes: This stop has a large parking lot, two picnic tables, some good interpretive information, and a public restroom facility (plumbed).

Mile 308.4 – Cave Spring

Cave Spring, a combination of a cave and a sinkhole, was a particularly interesting stop on our journey. Originally formed by underground water eroding the limestone to create a long room and corridor, the cave weakened over time until it collapsed.

An 800-foot paved path leads you to the mouth of a low cave entrance. Signs warn visitors that the limestone cave is dangerous and will eventually collapse; however, Mr B braved it for this picture because he’s just that kinda guy.

Mile 308.8 – Bear Creek Mound

The village site was occupied as early as 8,000 B.C. by hunters who stayed only long enough to prepare their kill. From the time of Christ to 1000 A.D., migratory people of this area practiced limited agriculture. The nearby fields and streams offered an abundance of nuts, fruits, game and fish. These people shaped this mound and built a crude temple on its summit to house their sacred images.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

Traveler Notes: You can easily walk from Bear Creek Mound to the Mississippi-Alabama state line.

Mile 308.9 – Alabama-Mississippi State Line

Between Mr B and I, we have visited nearly every state in the United States. Until this trip, however, neither one of us had ever set foot in Alabama, so we decided to document the occasion.

Obviously, I was the first one in Alabama, because I had to get there first to take this picture of Mr B driving across the state line form Mississippi. (Not that anyone is keeping track or anything. 😉)

Mile 317.0 – Freedom Hills Overlook

Freedom Hills is the site of a short, steep trail that leads to the the highest point on the Natchez Trace in Alabama. There are two benches along the way for resting, and a third bench at the top of the hill.

When Mr B and I took the hike, we took our “good camera,” but both left our cell phones in the car for some reason, so we had to get very creative when it came to taking a picture of the two of us at the top. We jury-rigged a makeshift camera sling in the fork of a tree, and after I set the timer, I had to run down so that we could capture the memory. Let’s just say that it was a challenge and it took more than one try. So while this picture isn’t the greatest and the lighting is terrible, it represents a fun memory for us.

I imagine that this place – along with the entire Natchez Trace – puts on an amazing show of color in the fall.

Mile 320.3 – Buzzard Roost Spring

Buzzard Roost Springs was the last stop we made before getting on Highway 72 for the last leg of our Day Trip from Memphis to Tupelo. It was a peaceful, relaxing way to end our brief tour of Natchez Trace Parkway.

Originally called Buzzard Sleep, the name was changed to Buzzard Roost in 1801 by Levi Colbert, a renowned Chickasaw chief. The spring was a water source for the Colbert house which also served as an inn and stand for travelers on the Old Natchez Trace. Travelers who stopped here remarked that its a good place for they were well received, well fed and kindly treated.

– US Dept of the Interior, National Park Service

Levi Colbert left behind a gripping legacy. As one of six sons of a Scots father and Chickasaw mother, Levi was in unique position between the two cultures. Both Levi and his brother George became prominent interpreters and negotiators, striving to foster peace with the US government while also maintaining the integrity and interests of the Chickasaw people and their culture.

Traveler Notes: If after, visiting this stop, you find yourself wanting to learn more (as I did) about the Chickasaw people; and more specifically, about the Colbert brothers and their intriguing story, you might want to check out Chickasaw Chief George Colbert: His Family and His Country.

Take Highway US-72 W back to Memphis!

Learn more about the Natchez Trace

Visit the Scenic Trace Website
Explore the Natchez Trace Interactive Map
Download the Natchez Trace Visitors Guide

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Tupelo, Mississippi {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 1}

August 20 By Renée ♥ 16 Comments

Looking for a great day trip from Memphis? Check out our real-life itinerary for our day trip from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi and back again (including our ridiculously Hobbit-like meal schedule).

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While on a recent trip to the Memphis area, Mr B and I found ourselves with an extra day on our hands, so we decided to broaden our horizons by taking a day trip to Tupelo, Mississippi, best known as the “Birthplace of Elvis.” And yes indeedee, we saw a heckuva lot of Elvis on this trip, but there’s more to Tupelo than just the history of its favorite son.

Tupelo, as it turns out, has a lot to offer. For example, did you know that the 444-mile historic Natchez Trace Parkway is headquartered in Tupelo? Or that one local man amassed a private collection of automobiles so extensive that Tupelo now boasts the official automobile museum of Mississippi? Or that, in Tupelo, you can legitimately have fried chicken, biscuits, and gravy for breakfast!?!

What follows is the real-life itinerary from our day trip; traveling from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississippi and back again via the Natchez Trace Parkway. I’ve also included our ridiculously Hobbit-like meal schedule in the itinerary (breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, etc.); however, if you are using this as a roadmap for your own day trip, don’t let our eating times or choices hold you back. There are plenty of wonderful places to eat in Tupelo that we didn’t get to. In fact, if you find a great spot to eat in Tupelo, we’d love it if you’d take a minute to share your discoveries in the comments below!

[Travelers: A condensed version of this itinerary can be found at the bottom of this post.]

DAY TRIP: Memphis to Tupelo {Roundtrip}

📌 We wanted to arrive in Tupelo by 9am, so we had a light breakfast and then hit the road in Memphis about 7:15 am. It took about and hour and forty minutes to drive the 108 miles from Memphis to Tupelo [via I-22].

📌 First stop: Connie’s Chicken.

Connie’s Fried Chicken

821 S Gloster St
Tupelo, MS 38801-4933
662.842.7260

Ready to get your carbs on? If you crave pillow-soft, buttery biscuits, crispy fried chicken, and lots of smooth, savory white gravy like your grandma used to make, Connie’s is your kind of place. This uber-casual comfort food hub serves it all up counter-style with bright smiles, friendly service, and reasonable prices. I had the tenderloin biscuit with gravy, and Mr B had chicken, and we shared a couple of warm blueberry donuts, fresh from the fryer.

📌 From Connie’s, go directly to the Tupelo Visitors Center.

Tupelo Convention & Visitors Bureau

399 E Main Street
Tupelo, Mississippi 38103-1623
662.841.6521

Tupelo has an excellent Visitors Center! Newly opened in 2018, the Tupelo Visitors Center is the perfect starting point for your day. Stop in and get the low down on the best attractions, arts, culture, outdoor recreation, shopping, and Elvis locations in the area.

At the visitors’ center, you can play with the interactive kids’ map, plan your itinerary, or pick up relevant informational brochures; including Elvis Driving Tour and Elvis Guitar Tour maps. There is also a display that allows you to hear the African American gospel, country, and blues music and musicians that influenced Elvis as a boy, and understand better how he integrated them into his unique musical style.

Elvis Driving Tour

Even if you don’t plan to follow this tour, the brochure provides a good overview of the town and will likely help you plan your day.

Elvis Guitar Trail

These 6-foot tall Elvis-themed guitars are ALL OVER town! More than 25 guitars have become permanent part of downtown Tupelo’s cityscape, and provide visitors with some great photo-ops. {Tip: If you post a photo with one of the guitars, be sure to tag it using #MyTupelo!}

📌 Drive to the “Elvis’ Birthplace.”

Elvis’ Birthplace

306 Elvis Presley Drive
Tupelo, MS 38804-2812
662.841.1245

Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, in a 450 square foot, two-room house built by his father, grandfather and uncle. The house is now one of the main attractions of the Elvis’ Birthplace and Museum.

The moment we opened the door to Elvis’ childhood home, an unexpected wave of familiarity swept over me – it smells exactly like my Grandma Lucy’s house!

As we stepped inside, a delightful docent greeted us, and enthusiastically shared both her knowledge of Elvis’ early life and details about the home, as well as her philosophy on a community’s responsibility in raising its children. She was abundantly entertaining.

The actual building where the Presley family attended church services has been moved to the Elvis Birthplace location. It was inside the walls of this small community chapel that Elvis was first introduced to the Southern gospel music that wove its way into his music throughout his life.

Through a multimedia presentation, visitors to the chapel experience a condensed church service, and are introduced to Elvis’ early musical influences; including Brother Frank, who taught Elvis his first guitar chords, and the gospel quartets that inspired his music.

If you want to tour the house or the chapel, you’ll need to purchase tickets, but you can walk the grounds and see the exterior of Elvis’ birthplace (still in its original location) free of charge. Tickets to tour the house, chapel, and museum are available for purchase inside the lobby. The earlier you arrive here, the better: this is the Big tourist attraction in town and it gets busy quickly.

📌 After completing your tour of Elvis’ Birthplace, head over to Johnnie’s Drive-In.

Johnnie’s Drive-In

908 E Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38804-2828
662.842.6748

Mr B and I stopped in at Johnnie’s mostly because we are both hopeless romantics and it sounded like a good idea. We were thrilled when we walked in just as the “Elvis Booth” was being vacated, and took our seats before any other crazy Elvis tourists could steal the honor. Mr B and I decided to skip the food and share a root beer float, which turned out to be a great deal because the friendly waitresses at Johnnie’s kept refilling our glass with root beer every time it got low until we finally finished off the ice cream.

The Elvis Booth at Johnnie's Drive-In - Day Trip from Memphis {Part 1: Tupelo, Mississippi} | The Good Hearted Woman

I’d share a root beer float with this guy anytime!

Posted at the Elvis Booth, just below a picture of Elvis sitting the aforementioned booth:

My name is Paul Cramer, and this is the story of my Elvis picture.

I was a traveling salesman in 1956, selling costume jewelry, for the Gerson Company out of Kansas City, MO. My territory was the South. I visited jewelry stores in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee.

While I was showing my wares to a jeweler in Tupelo, Mississippi, a teenage girl came into the store. She was out of breath and very excited screaming “Elvis is next-door – Elvis is next door!” I didn’t know who Elvis was, but she told me he was very popular in the South.

I happen to have my camera in my car, so I went next door to the café. Elvis was sitting in a booth with another man and there were a few girls around. I asked him if I could take his picture. He said, “OK,” so I took it!

When I came home, I had the picture developed and put away, not thinking much about it. I forgot about it until I came across it in 1997, 41 years later, as I was looking through old photo albums. This is how I took Elvis’s picture.

We are abysmally bad at taking selfies, but at least we have fun while we try!

📌 Next stop: Downtown Tupelo.

Downtown Tupelo

Visit the Tupelo Hardware Store, where Gladys Presley purchased Elvis his first guitar for $7.

Tupelo Hardware Company
114 W Main Street
Main & Front Streets
Tupelo, MS 38804-3916

Tupelo Hardware is one of twelve sites in Tupelo that are marked with bronze plaques on the Elvis Presley Driving Tour, signifying it as having played an important role in Elvis’ formative years. It was at this store that Gladys Presley, Elvis’ mother, purchased his first for his 11th birthday in 1946, for $6.95.

Tupelo Hardware is a fully functioning hardware store (with excellent cast iron offerings!), and visitors are welcome during the store’s regular hours.

Beyond the hardware store, Downtown Tupelo is lined with locally owned specialty shops that carry everything from home décor and artwork by local artists to clothes to cigars and wine. You’ll probably see a few Elvis murals, too. 😉

📌 Drive (or walk) to the Tupelo FairPark, where you can enjoy the wide open-space, the Elvis Homecoming statue, city hall, a small children’s park, and a small but refreshing splash pad.

FairPark

71 Troy Street
Tupelo, MS
662.841.6513

In 1956, Elvis returned to Tupelo and performed a Homecoming Concert at the Mississippi/Alabama Fair and Dairy Show Fairgrounds.

Now known as FairPark, it is home to Tupelo’s annual Elvis Festival, held the first week in June each year. The festival features live music, with past past performers including such artists as Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, and B.B. King.

Homecoming Statue

📌 Head over to the Tupelo Automobile Museum and spend an hour or so motoring through the past.

Tupelo Automobile Museum

1 Otis Dr (Corner Franklin & Otis Across from BancorpSouth Arena)
Tupelo, MS 38804-4015

I have to admit that the Tupelo Automobile Museum came as a bit of a surprise. You just don’t expect a town the size of Tupelo to be home to one of the most extensive car collections in the United States. It was pretty amazing, and well worth the entrance fee.

The Tupelo Automobile Museum houses over 100 antique, classic, and collectible cars, all chronologically displayed to illustrate the progress of auto design and engineering over the 100 years. The oldest car in the collection is a 1886 Benz; the newest is a 1994 Dodge Viper.

This collection of kid cars brought back some fond memories.

There were plenty of “famous” cars in the collection as well, including BB King’s 1984 Chevy El Camino, Tony Curtis car (the “Leslie Special”) from the movie The Great Race, and of course, one of Elvis’ cars. (Most of Elvis’ cars can be found in Elvis Presley Motors exhibit at the Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex in Memphis.)

📌 Grab a late lunch at the Neon Pig.

Neon Pig

1203 N Gloster Street
Tupelo, MS 38804-1222
662.269.2533

Before heading back to Memphis via the Natchez Trace Parkway, we stopped to grab a world-class burger at the Neon Pig. The Neon Pig Café is the only all-in-one butcher shop and restaurant in Mississippi, and lays claim to one of the best burgers in America.

The Neon Pig’s Smash Burger was officially named “Best Burger in America” by thrillist.com in 2015. The Smash Burger is a combination of aged filet, ribeye, sirloin, New York steak, and Benton’s bacon, all ground together to give it a strong, smoky flavor. It is served on a ciabatta bun with bacon bits, cheddar cheese, onion, and a housemade comeback sauce. Mr B and I decided to split one burger, which was more than enough, and ordered coleslaw and potato salad on the side.

I don’t eat enough burgers to know if this is The Best burger in the US, but it was definitely delicious. (In my mind, the distinction of “world’s best burger” will always and forever go to the T-burger from the Twilight Room [i.e., T-Room] on Lombard in Portland, Oregon.) The ciabatto bun held up well to the imposing mass of meats and sauce, and the flavors all played very nicely together. My best advice for eating at the Neon Pig is – DO NOT SKIP the potato salad! It is amazing! I’m certain that it has more bacon products in it than any ten average potato salads, and that’s probably why it’s so crazy-good.

📌 Stop by the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitors Center just outside of Tupelo.

Natchez Park Visitor’s Center

2680 Natchez Trace Pkwy
Tupelo, MS 38804-9715
800.305.7417

The Natchez Trace is a primitive trail once traveled by Native Americans over 8,000 years ago, spanning 444 miles and reaching from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. The Natchez Trace Parkway, headquartered in Tupelo, is one of America’s Top 10 National Parks. Guests can explore the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center and discover the parkway’s rich history and inhabitants.

If you stop in, be sure to pick up the “Natchez Trace Parkway” map/brochure issued by the US Park Service. We found it to be invaluable as we took our tour of the Trace.

📌 Drive the Natchez Trace north from Tupelo to where it intersects with Highway 72; roughly 11 miles into Alabama from the Tennessee-Alabama state line.

Natchez Trace Parkway

It took us about three hours to drive the 50-some miles the Natchez Trace Parkway from Tupelo to where it intersects with Highway 72, which included plenty of time to take in most of the roadside interpretive sites along the way. There is so much history along this route, spanning cultures across millenia, and it simply wouldn’t do it justice to bury it here at the end of an already lengthy post, so we ‘ll be covering it next week instead. Tune in next week to read all about our adventures in Day Trip from Memphis: Part 2 – Natchez Trace Parkway.

Day Trip from Memphis: Tupelo, Mississippi | The Good Hearted Woman

Coming up next week: 50 Miles of history along the Natchez Trace Parkway {Day Trip from Memphis: Part 2}

📌Return to Memphis: Fill up your gas tank and grab a snack in one of the towns along Highway 72. (We stopped in Corinth, Mississippi.) Travel time back to Memphis from the Natchez Trace / Hwy 72 interchange is about 2 hours [128 Miles]. [Route: Hwy 72 to Hwy 385 to I-240 to I-69.]

DAY TRIP ITINERARY: Memphis to Tupelo {Roundtrip}

Short Version

To arrive in Tupelo by 9am, plan to hit the road in Memphis about 7:15 am. Eat a little something for breakfast before you leave to tide you over.
Drive from Memphis, Tennessee to Tupelo, Mississipppi via I-22 [Travel time: 1 hour, 40 min. – 108 mi.]
Stop in at Connie’s Chicken for a carb-intensive second breakfast of fried chicken, warm biscuits, gravy, and fresh blueberry donuts.
From Connie’s, go directly to the Tupelo Visitors Center. Take a quick look around, play with the interactive kids’ map, and pick up relevant informational brochures; including Elvis Driving Tour and Elvis Guitar Tour maps.
Drive to the “Birthplace of Elvis.” You can purchase tickets inside the lobby. The earlier you arrive here, the better: this is the Big tourist attraction in town and it gets busy quickly.
After completing your tour of Elvis’ Birthplace, head over to Johnnie’s Drive-In and have a little snack or a root beer float in the “Elvis Booth.”
Next stop: Downtown Tupelo.
Visit the Tupelo Hardware Store, where Elvis purchased his first guitar for $7.
Stroll Downtown Tupelo and check out the cool local shops and murals.
Drive (or walk) to the Tupelo FairPark, where you can enjoy the wide open-space, the Elvis Homecoming statue, city hall, a small children’s park, and a small but refreshing splash pad.
Head over to the Tupelo Automobile Museum and spend an hour or so motoring through the past.
Grab a late lunch at the Neon Pig before heading back to Memphis via the Natchez Trace Parkway. (Be sure to try the potato salad!)
Stop by the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitors Center just outside of Tupelo. Be sure to pick up the “Natchez Trace Parkway” map/brochure issued by the US Park Service.
Drive the Natchez Trace north from Tupelo to where it intersects with Highway 72; roughly 11 miles into Alabama from the Tennessee-Alabama state line.
Fill up your gas tank and grab a snack in one of the towns along Highway 72. (We stopped in Corinth, Mississippi.)
Travel time back to Memphis from the Natchez Trace / Hwy 72 interchange is about 2 hours [128 Miles]. [Route: Hwy 72 to Hwy 385 to I-240 to I-69.]

Total Round-trip Mileage (not including driving all over Tupelo) = 300 miles.

Music lovers, here’s our list of eight iconic, must-see, don’t-even-think-of-skipping sites in Music City, along with a Nashville travel tips that will make your life a little easier along the way.

Eight Iconic, Must-See Nashville Music Sites

1 . Ryman Auditorium

2. Country Music Hall of Fame

3. RCA Studio B

4. Hatch Print Show

5. Honky Tonk Highway

6. Ernest Tubb Record Shop

7. Carter Vintage Guitars

8. Grand Ole Opry

Nashville Travel Tips

The Camassia Nature Preserve is a 26-acre natural area known for its beautiful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and easy, family-friendly trails.

CAMASSIA NATURE PRESERVE ⬇️ VIDEO PHOTO-STORY

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El Paso abounds with FREE fun! Explore the historic Plaza Theater, discover El Paso’s past at the Museum of History, take a scenic drive for an amazing view of three states and two countries – and even visit the downtown pool where live alligators once frolicked!

ONE FREE DAY IN EL PASO

Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Downtown El Paso

Be sure to see:

SAN JACINTO PLAZA

EL PASO MUSEUM OF HISTORY

FRAY GARCIA de SAN FRANCISCO MONUMENT

PLAZA THEATER

{Officially, The Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center}’

Additional Information

EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as it first resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.

CRUISE EL PASO’S SCENIC DRIVE & OVERLOOK

“Not many cities have a mountain range right in the middle of their city, and still fewer have a spectacular drive around the rim of their mountains. El Paso has both.”

Visit El Paso – More Info

EL PASO GOOD EATS

Must Try: SALT + HONEY BAKERY CAFE

Sentimental Favorite: ROSA’S CANTINA

Texas Institution: CATTLEMAN’S STEAKHOUSE AT INDIAN CLIFFS RANCH

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Why would you want to spend your day roaming around an old, arid West Texas cemetery? At El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery, it’s all about the history.

Every Grave Holds a Story

Buffalo Soldiers Monument

Everyone has a Story

Famous “Residents” of Concordia Cemetery

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The El Paso Mission Trail traces a nine-mile segment of the oldest road in North America – the historic El Camino Real [The Royal Road ], taking travelers on a journey that passes by three Texas missions and through 400 years of history.

Socorro

San Elizario

Ysleta

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center

Good Eats on the Mission Trail

Final Thoughts

Additional Information: El Paso Mission Trail

Additional Information:

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As it turned out, photographing Mesa Arch at sunrise was not only a shot of a lifetime, but a life-lesson as well.

Photography Lesson: The Shot of a Lifetime

Photographing Mesa Arch at Sunrise: What You Need to Know

Arrive Early

Stake Your Claim, But Be Flexible

Take a Tripod

Change Up Your Space

Look Around

Stay Late

Be Alert

Finally, Put the Camera Down

More information on photographing Mesa Arch:

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The Delicate Arch Trail is challenging, and totally worth the effort! Go early, take your time, and bring twice as much water as you think you need.

Hiking the Delicate Arch Trail

Can I survive this hike?

I MADE IT!!!

Success on the Delicate Arch Trail depends on abiding by a few key tenets:

WATER

SHOES

SUN PROTECTION

TRAIL SIGNS

TIMING

Hitting the Trail

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Mother Nature is a master sculptor and in no place is that more evident than at Arches National Park.

1. Delicate Arch

2. Giant’s Grin

3. Three Gossips & Sheep Rock

4. Courthouse Tower

Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only
as it first resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.

“Not many cities have a mountain range right in the middle of their city,
and still fewer have a spectacular drive around the rim of their mountains.
El Paso has both.”