Traveling with the Jones

Each year, my high school teacher Mark Hedge plans a field trip to Arizona.  He took any student from the Biology Club that wanted to go.

I was able to go two years and it was one of my favorite school trips! We would leave the school one morning; stay two nights in Tucson, Arizona and then head home the following afternoon. 

These are the three educational places he took his students each year:

3 places you must visit near Tucson, Arizona

1. Kartchner Caverns State Park – The caverns are actually above ground, and are still a living cave.  Water runs through causing it to change and grow.  A shuttle takes you up to the caves where you can see the original entrance on the side of the hill. You have to walk through a sealed tunnel where you walk through a mist of water.  Since the caves are still forming, any outside particles can disrupt the natural process.

As you walk through the caves, you see the artistic stalagmites and stalactites rising and falling around you.  You look down at what seems like a pool of mud and see a path through the pool where the original founders waded into the cave.  That same path is used for maintenance and research today.  During the Rotunda/Throne Tour you will even enjoy a light show and music that highlights the majestic Kubla Khan, the largest column formation in Arizona named after the famous poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Photo by Mike Lewis.

 2. Sonora Desert Museum – In a hidden oasis in the desert you will find the Sonora Desert Museum.  This outdoor museum has been called a zoo, museum and botanical garden all in one.

  As you wonder down the dirt paths, you are led from birds of prey, to reptiles, amphibians and mammals.  With great hands-on exhibits, tons of animals and presentations, you will have no problem spending an entire day at this hidden sanctuary.

3. The Biosphere 2 – The Biosphere 2 offers a very unique experience.  It was originally built to research the way Earth works by recreating the different biomes and conditions that are present on Earth.  In both 1991 and 1994 two different groups of researchers were locked inside this giant glass building to study survival.

 What appears to be a giant glass greenhouse is actually a huge research experiment.  Tours are offered that actually allow you to travel through the different biomes.  While the tour does consist of a lot of walking and climbing stairs, it is truly an amazing experience.  One minute you are walking through a desert environment and the next you are next to a huge waterfall or a banana tree. 

As you walk through the facility you learn about the two groups that lived inside of the Biosphere 2 and the challenges they faced.

Have you been to any of these locations? Where else in the Tucson area do you like to visit?

Check out these books by researchers who lived in the Biosphere 2:

Taysha Ham hails from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.

This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.

Why not check out these other posts by Taysha “;.

•  Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• Destination Discovery: Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• Weekend Wanderings – Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Visiting Washington DC? 10 Recommendations from Friends

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Since I was attending WDS in Portland July 5th to 7th, Mr. Jones and I decided to go to Portland a few days early and explore the Oregon Coast.

It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Portland to Tillamook, via a scenic drive on Hwy 6 through the Tillamook State Forest. Dairy cattle have thrived in the cool coastal area date since 1851.

Any visit to Tillamook, Oregon had to include a visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

More than 100 years ago several small creameries joined together to form the Tillamook County Creamery Association, still owned today by more than 100 farm families.

The Tillamook Cheese Factory is open for self-guided tours every day of the year, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

March 2017 UPDATE: On March 5, 2017 the Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor’s Center closed. It is being replaced by a brand new center scheduled to open by the summer of 2018. Meanwhile, there is a temporary Visitors Center is not physically connected to the factory.

Visitors watch the cheese making via glass windows looking down into the plant.  Since we visited on the 4th of July holiday, there wasn’t much activity on the line.

The tour includes signage that explains what you are seeing, plus cheese-making factoids.  Who knew that a “forty” is a cheese block weighing between 41 and 42 pounds?

A fun part of the display area showcases the Tillamook ad campaigns through the years.

At the end of the tour there are free samples of every kind of Tillamook cheese. Our favorite was the new Vintage White Sharp Cheddar Cheese.  You can buy your favorite cheese, plus a bag of those squeaky cheese curds.

Our favorite Tillamook product, however, isn’t the cheese.  It’s hard to choose a favorite flavor of Tillamook ice cream.

The chocolate peanut butter Tillamook ice cream is hard to beat.  it contains a “river” of peanut butter running through the chocolate cream.

Another highlight — one of the Love Loaf Tour vans is available for a photo op.

Of course, like all good factory tours, there is a gift shop, selling this cookbook among thousands of cheese-related souvenirs.

The Tillamook Cheese Cookbook: Celebrating Over a Century of Excellence

Have you visited the Tillamook Cheese Factory?  What’s your favorite flavor of Tillamook ice cream?

March 2017 UPDATE: On March 5, 2017 the Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor’s Center closed. It is being replaced by a brand new center scheduled to open by the summer of 2018. Meanwhile, there is a temporary Visitors Center is not physically connected to the factory.

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My cousin Lenee lives in California, but travels back to New Mexico several times a year to visit.  Her son Ruger is the most adorable nephew I could ask for! 

For the mom of an almost 2-year-old, she has learned a lot about traveling with children.  I asked her to share some tips that make it easier on both her and Ruger.

12 Tips for Traveling with a Toddler, from a Traveling Mom

1. Overall pack simply, lightly and efficiently.  You do not want to over-pack and end up with things you do not need.  But you also don’t want to forget the essentials.

2. Make sure to pack a change of clothes and 5-10 diapers along with desitin ointment or vitamin A and D cream and a changing pad and wipes.

3. Take pacifier wipes and clips to make them easier to clean and prevent them from falling on the floor.

4. Pack several pacifiers and water bottles with the pop up lids so you do not have to unscrew them each time.

5. If all else fails, you can always find a place to wash clothes and a store to buy diapers!

Tips for the airplane

6. Pack a stroller that is easy to handle and breaks down easily.

7. Pack a medium sized toy and book to keep your child occupied.

8. Try to fit everything in 1-2 bags that can be easily stored underneath your seat.

9. If you can, buy an extra seat. Having extra space can come in handy!

10. Get a window seat and a middle seat if possible.  Lenee has  flown with her son only on Southwest Airlines and has had no problems so far.

Tips for the car

11. Invest in “Squeezies.”  It is food that does not have to be refrigerated and does not require any utensils to eat. You literally “Squeeze” the food out.

12. Keep a bag ready to go.  Lenee likes to prepare a bag with food and toys, and another with a change of clothes, diapers, pacifiers, etc. in addition to the baby’s regular suitcase.  This makes it simple to stay in a hotel for a night and not have to unpack every suitcase from the car.

Both photos are courtesy of Lenee Talbot. 

Do you often travel with kids? What tips could you share that make traveling easier?

Taysha Ham hails from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.

This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.

Why not check out these other posts by Taysha “;.

•  Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• Destination Discovery: Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• Weekend Wanderings – Santa Fe, New Mexico

Follow us on Twitter or interact with us on Facebook.