Landscape Across America

Connie Arizona, California, Iowa, Road Trips, Texas December 19, 2015amboy crater, channel islands national park, elephane seals in san simeon, elephant seals in california, Great Salt Lake, Iowa, Iowa loess hills, Loess Hills, mammoth lakes, Monterey, Monterey CA, Monterey California, oatman arizona, oatman az, road trip, salinas valley, Salinas Valley Ca, Salinas Valley California, san simeon, san simeon ca, san simeon california, santa monica, santa monica ca, santa monica california, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sonora Pass, texas, utah, wyoming 1 Comment

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain

–Katharine Lee Bates

During our twenty-day road trip from Chicago to Monterey, California, down to Santa Monica and back across Route 66, my favorite patriotic song, America the Beautiful, came to mind. The topography constantly changed. From mountains, some still with snow, to lush valleys, to the hot, dry desert and ocean views, the landscape painted a beautiful backdrop for our trip. We’re sharing some of the scenic areas that we drove through in this video.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in U.S. Long Cuts. We are merging U.S. Long Cuts with Midwest Wanderer, adding a “Beyond the Midwest” menu option.

A Day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Connie Attractions & Events, California December 6, 2015October 19, 2017Monterey, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey California, Things to do in Monterey Bay 1 Comment

If there’s one attraction you visit in Monterey, California, make it the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s the number one Monterey thing to do according to Trip Advisor, and it makes every list of top U.S. aquariums. Located on Cannery Row, a series of former sardine and anchovy canning factories now housing touristy and trendy shops and restaurants, the aquarium is, ironically, in a former canning operation, as well.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in U.S. Long Cuts. We are merging U.S. Long Cuts with Midwest Wanderer, adding a “Beyond the Midwest” menu option.