2022 attractions, part 2

Continuing from yesterday, a summary of some of the attractions we visited in 2022.

This is part two of four, covering April through June, inclusive. Check out part one, if you haven’t already.

April 2022

Titan Missile Museum, Arizona:

Missile

FMCA Tucson 2022 convention:

First timers session

Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments in Arizona:

Montezuma Castle

Jerome, Arizona:

Jerome

Mariners Spring Training game in Peoria, Arizona:

Pitching

Route 66 in Williams, Arizona:

Williams at night

Grand Canyon Railway and National Park:

Grand Canyon

Petrified Forest National Park:

Petrified logs

Grand Canyon National Park at sunset:

Grand Canyon

Route 66 around Seligman, Arizona:

Roadkill Cafe

Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Wupatki National Monuments:

Wukoki house

Lake Mead and Hoover Dam:

Wide angle

Las Vegas strip, Nevada:

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada sign

Las Vegas Fremont Street Experience:

Fremont Street Experience

May 2022

Great Basin National Park in Nevada:

Cave

Zion National Park, Utah:

Rocks

Red Canyon in Utah:

Red Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah:

Bryce Canyon

Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah:

Cedar Breaks

Pipe Spring National Monument and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park:

Coral Pink Sand Dunes

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument including Singing Canyon:

Singing canyon

Zion National Park again:

Zion National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park at sunset:

Bryce Canyon

Mossy Cave Trail hike, Bryce Canyon:

Rocks

Kodachrome Basin State Park:

Rocks

Capitol Reef National Park:

Rocks

“Loop the Fold” drive around Capitol Reef National Park:

Ridge

Hickman Bridge Trail hike in Capitol Reef:

Hickman Bridge trail

Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park:

Green River

June 2022

Sunset in Arches National Park:

Delecate Arch

The Needles in Canyonlands National Park:

Rocks

Sand Dune Arch, picnic, secret back road for Arches National Park:

Rocks

Landscape Arch in Arches National Park:

Landscape Arch

The Windows in Arches National Park:

Double Arch

Dead Horse Point State Park:

Colorado River

Goblin Valley State Park:

Goblins

Goulding’s Monument Valley Stagecoach Restaurant:

Navajo fry bread

Monument Valley sunset tour:

Rocks

Goosenecks State Park, Mexican Hat, Forrest Gump Point:

Goosenecks State Park

Monument Valley horseback ride:

David and Jenn on horses

Monument Valley drive:

Monuments

Moki Dugway switchbacks:

Switchbacks

Bears Ears and Natural Bridges National Monuments:

Bridge

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum, Utah:

Great house

Mesa Verde National Park quick visit, Colorado:

Mesa

Four Corners Monument:

Four Corners Monument

Hovenweep National Monument:

Hovenweep Castle

Mesa Verde National Park lookout, Far View, tower, palace:

Far View Community sites

Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House:

Cliff Palace

Aztec Ruins National Monument:

Reconstructed kiva

Continue to part three.

2022 attractions, part 1

One of the main reasons for traveling the United States in a motorhome is to explore the many wonders around the country. This is a summary of some of the attractions we visited in 2022. Again, you can see the ones from 2021 in last year’s summary post.

We’ve seen so much, I split this post into four parts, one for each quarter of the year. This is the first part, for January through March, inclusive.

As with the previous summaries, I’ll include a link to the corresponding blog post, and a sample picture. Click or tap the link or picture to see more.

You can see all of the attraction-related blog posts via the exploring category, with the earliest posts at the top, or the latest posts at the top.

January 2022

Xscapers Bash in Lake Havasu City, Arizona:

Bingo 

London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona:

London Bridge

Palm Canyon in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Yuma, Arizona:

Palm Canyon mountain

Hike in Coachella Valley Preserve, California:

Palm trees

February 2022

Downtown Palm Springs, California:

Palm Springs

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, California:

Other tram

Salton Sea, California:

Salvation Mountain

A hike in Joshua Tree National Park:

Joshua tree

Disney day 1; Disneyland:

Castle and Disney

Disney day 2; Disney California Adventure:

Radiator Springs

Disney day 3; Disneyland:

Jenn's lightsaber photos

Disney day 4; Disney California Adventure:

Parade

Disney day 5; Disneyland:

Minnie and Mickey Mouse

Medieval Times in Los Angeles:

Knights

Warner Bros Studio Tour:

Back lot

March 2022

El Capitan State Beach:

Sandpipers

Channel Islands National Park and wildlife cruise:

Arch

Cabazon Dinosaurs:

Dinosaur

Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona:

Garden

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch:

Ostriches

Check out part two!

San Antonio River Walk

We explored the main downtown part of the San Antonio River Walk.

But first, lunch at Margaritaville near the river:

Margaritaville

A statue of Saint Anthony:

Statue

The river, with a glimpse of the Tower of the Americas:

River and tower

The river walk:

River walk

River walk

River walk

Buildings

Buildings

Fountain

River

Duck

River boat

We had a second lunch at a riverside Mexican restaurant:

Jenn

They took some photos of us, gave this one free, and offered to sell others, but they weren’t great pics:

Photo

Boat

We decided to take a river boat tour, which was an interesting and entertaining experience:

Boat

Boat

Boat

Boat captain

Theater

Statue

River

River

River

Building

River

Building

River

Waterfall

Bridge

River

River

A theater, with seating on one side and the stage across the river:

Theater

Theater

River

Waterfall

Sculpture

River

Rivercenter

A nice downtown area.

The Alamo

We visited The Alamo while in San Antonio. It is a site of great significance in the history of Texas. It started as a mission in 1718, and is best known for the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.

Here’s a GIF of a series of relief maps, showing how it grew and changed over the years:

Relief maps GIF

The courtyard in front of the Alamo church:

The Alamo

Statues:

Statue

Statue

The Alamo:

The Alamo

The Alamo

We took a guided tour, which was great to learn lots about the history:

Tour guide

We each had a device with an earpiece, so the guide could more easily talk to us:

Tour device

Drawing of the mission:

Drawing of the mission

A statue of a guy who lived in that house, and who defended the Alamo:

Statue

Monument:

Monument

James Butler Bonham and James Bowie:

Monument

Burke Trammel and David Crockett:

Monument

A cannon:

Cannon

Heading inside the The Alamo church:

The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo

The church is just one part of the mission:

Model

The Alamo

As part of a guided tour, we got to go into a room that isn’t open to the general public:

The Alamo

The Alamo

The Alamo

Army markings:

The Alamo

The Alamo

Exit:

Exit

Gift shop:

Gift shop

Back of The Alamo:

Back of The Alamo

Courtyard:

Courtyard

Courtyard

Cannons:

Cannons

Exhibits:

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Decorations:

Decoratoins

Decoratoins

Decoratoins

Reenactor:

Reenactor

Gift shop:

Gift shop

Gift shop

Statues:

Statue

Statue

Statue

Model:

Model

Long barracks:

Long house barracks

Long house barracks

Long house barracks

Long house barracks

A last look at The Alamo:

The Alamo

San Antonio Zoo Lights

We visited San Antonio Zoo for their holiday lights.

We arrived before dark, so there were still some animals awake:

Animals

Animals

Animals

Animals

Animals

A carousel:

Carousel

Carousel

Animals

Aussie Snacks

Animals

Animals

Animals

Animals

We had some dinner:

Dinner

Then wandered around some more:

Animals

Animals

Animals

Some holiday lights coming on as the sun set:

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Animals

Artwork

Animals

Animals

Animals

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Animals

Animals

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

A band:

Band

Holiday lights

Artwork:

Art

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Holiday lights

Zoo sign

It was a fairly small zoo, not particularly impressive. Notable for opening the first cageless exhibits in the US. Though it looks like much of it hasn’t been updated recently.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

We explored the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

We rode our bikes between the four missions, starting at Mission Concepcion in the north. Here’s the approximate route on an interactive map (we diverted from this a little; see the actual route in the video at the end):

Mission Concepcion:

Mission Concepcion

Relief map:

Relief map

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

This is still a functional church:

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Mission Concepcion

Riding on the river path:

River walk path

Our next stop, Mission San Jose:

Mission San Jose

Relief map

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

River:

River

River walk path

Mission San Juan:

Mission San Juan

Mission San Juan

Mission San Juan

An art installation — Árbol de la Vida: Memorias y Voces de la Tierra:

Artwork

Mission Espada:

Mission Espada

Mission Espada

Mission Espada

Mission Espada

Mission Espada

Heading back along the river walk path:

River walk path

River walk path

River walk path

River walk path

River walk path

River

River

River walk path

River walk path

River walk path

Back at our truck:

Back at our truck

Mission Concepcion:

Mission Concepcion

A video of our riding route:

SeaWorld San Antonio; Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Since it’s Christmas Day, I wanted to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 🎄

We went to SeaWorld in San Antonio to see the holiday lights. One doesn’t really think of the sea in connection with landlocked San Antonio, but there ya go.

SeaWorld

We first checked out the sea lions:

Sea lions

Since we happened to be nearby when they were about to start a Sea lion show, we thought we’d check it out:

Sea lion show

Sea lion show

Sea lion show

Sea lion show

We sensibly sat outside the splash zone, aka deliberately spraying water jets zone:

Sea lion show

Sea lion show

Sea lion show

So cute:

Cute

Sea lions

Snowmen:

Snowmen

Snowmen

Snowmen

Reindeer

A very Texan boot tree:

Boot tree

Plastic bottle tree:

Plastic bottle tree

Turtle:

Turtle

Fish:

Fish

Ducks and flamingos:

Ducks and flamingos

Jenn:

Jenn

Dinner:

Dinner

Swag:

Swag

Lights:

Lights

Lights

Lights

Again we happened to be nearby when they were about to start a nativity show, as told by animal puppets, with some live animals, so we attended that too (way too loud):

Nativity show

Nativity show

Nativity show

Nativity show

Nativity show

Nativity show

Lights reflecting in the water:

Lights

A musical performance:

Performance

Lights:

Lights

A Sesame Street Christmas parade:

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Christmas parade

Then we headed to the Orca Encounter, for a little more animal exploitation… but they were keen to point out how many animals they’d rescued and otherwise helped:

Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter

Some videos of the orca:

More lights:

Lights

Lights

SeaWorld

It was a fun evening.

Ingram, Texas and Stonehenge II

We noticed a place called “Stonehenge II” on a map when looking for nearby attractions, and had to go take a look at it. We’ve been a couple of times to another Stonehenge replica, the Maryhill Stonehenge in Washington, just north of the Oregon border.

This one is in Ingram, Texas, a bit less than an hour south of the Pecan Valley RV Park (which is “nearby” in Texas terms):

Ingram, Texas

Some murals in town:

Murals

Murals

We first stopped at Hunter House Cafe for brunch:

Hunter House Cafe

Hunter House Cafe

Hunter House Cafe

Hunter House Cafe

We’re in Texas, so of course I had to try grits:

Hunter House Cafe

Jenn had Huevos Rancheros:

Hunter House Cafe

Then we proceeded to Stonehenge II:

Stonehenge II

Plus a couple of Easter Island head replicas, for reasons:

Stonehenge II

It’s 90% the height and 60% the width of the original:

Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II

Stonehenge II

Fort McKavett State Historic Site

We visited Fort McKavett State Historic Site, a 150-year-old fort in West Texas, from the Texas-Indian Wars of 1850–1875, with a museum, some ruins, and several restored structures.

Entrance

The visitor center and museum is in the restored hospital building:

Visitor center

Some museum exhibits:

Museum

Museum

Museum

Museum

Museum

Museum

Museum

Museum

Museum

Another angle of the hospital building:

Hospital

Officer buildings:

Buildings

A schoolhouse, that was used from 1874 to 1956:

School

School

School

School

Ruins of the commanding officers quarters:

Ruins

Ruins

Ruins

Sun

Ruins

Ruins

Ruins

Ruins

Ruins

Ruins

Ruins

Other officer quarters, restored:

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Officer quarters

Headquarters:

Headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters

Headquarters

Pole

Barracks:

Barracks

Barracks

Barracks

Barracks

Barracks

Ruins of barracks:

Barracks

Barracks

Barracks

Officers quarters:

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

A “sink”:

Sink

Officers quarters

Officers quarters

The “Dead House” (morgue) behind the hospital:

Dead House

Dead House

Other side of the hospital:

Hospital

Hospital

Hospital

A fascinating look at a slice of regional history.

South Llano River State Park

South of Junction, Texas is the South Llano River State Park. We’ve got a Texas State Parks pass… so when driving around town, we decided to check it out:

South Llano River State Park

Info sign:

Info sign

The visitor center:

Visitor center

Visitor center

Visitor center

Signs

An electric & water-only campground (a bit too small for us, though we might have fit in some sites):

Campground

Campground

A major feature of the park is a wildlife refuge, including a turkey roosting area, where wild turkeys roost in the pecan trees overnight:

Info sign

Turkey roost area

Turkey roost area

We didn’t see any turkeys, though did see one of the small deer:

Deer

At a river access point, an interesting idea: a box of trash bags:

Trash bags

The river:

River

River

River

River

River

River

Some subsidence:

Subsidence

River

River