Rene Cizio's Blog, page 18

A Love Story About Books and Forks, Washington

I’d been staying in Washington near Tacoma, hours away from Forks, Washington and there was no way I was leaving without going. What? Have you never heard of it? Perhaps you’ve heard of the book and movie named “Twilight?” Yes, I’m a total book nerd. I love going to places my favorite authors have lived or written about and this was a spot I’d been thinking of since I first read Twilight many, many years ago. When I first read Twilight in 2007, I wasn’t well-traveled. I was a flat-broke and couldn’t even afford to think about travel, much less do it. So, I didn’t know anything about Washington when I read the book(s). There were four books in the series (now five) and after reading the first one, I immediately got the rest and read nonstop for the next two days. I don’t think I even slept, or at least not much. That’s how much I loved those books and still do. Washington But the location in the books – later brought to life even more in the movies – seemed beyond believable to me. Could such a place exist? Where moss-covered trees were taller than I’d ever seen, […]

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Managing Tiny Troubles at the Foot of Mount Rainier

I got a late start heading for Mount Rainier National Park and it threatened to derail my day, but I was able to turn it around – six hours later than expected. My troubles were self-inflicted, as they often are, and came with a lesson I must have needed. I’m usually an early riser, but, on this Saturday, I slept in. To make matters worse, instead of heading straight for the park, I dawdled, and it was 8 am before I headed toward the mountain. Two hours later than I’d planned. As I drove over the Gig Harbor narrows bridge, paying the customary $6 to cross, I was surprised to see the amount of traffic already on the road and it made me feel late – a feeling I loathe. The drive to Mount Rainier took me mainly through small towns and two-lane highways. I passed through industrial seaport areas filled with gas stations, which would have been convenient since I was running low on gas. But because I was “running late,” I didn’t stop. Instead, I measured the miles to the park and the miles I had left in gas and decided that I had enough. Anyone who’s ever […]

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A Perfect Day Seattle Whale Watching

Outside the boat window on my Seattle whale watching trip, dolphin after dolphin jumped from the water. I was as delighted as a child, and this was just the beginning. Early in the morning, I headed toward Seattle and Pier 69 to catch a boat out to the San Juan Islands for some whale watching and island viewing. The boat was big, but not huge. It was cushy with plush leather seats, a full-service snack bar and held probably close to 200 people on two floors. It also had an upper outdoor deck. Out to Sea We clipped along at a rapid pace, through Puget Sound and past many barrier islands. The fog in the early morning was thick and we couldn’t see anything until we were on top of it. The captain sounded its horn repeatedly to alert the many fishing boats around us that we were coming. Outside my window, dolphin after dolphin jumped from the water at a distance just close enough for me to see. But they were also quick and by the time I saw one, they were gone. Two boys, probably 7 and 9 years old, sat in front of me and were diligent […]

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Me, my Fear, and a Parasail Walk onto a Boat in Washington

In Gig Harbor, Washington I attached myself to parasail and floated like a runaway balloon, well sort of. In the harbor, you can watch the parasails zipping by all day, soaring high above the boats hanging from their colorful sails, like oversized ridiculous birds. I wanted to be ridiculous, so I signed up. I just didn’t think it through until it was too late. Gig Harbor This bay and city on Puget Sound just outside of Tacoma, is not far from Seattle. Instead of the Seattle grunge scene, you get the small-town coastal vibe. Since I’m staying in town for a few weeks, I decided to do as the locals do and get out on the water. Driving in Washington, outside of the cities, is a different kind of joy. To get to the boat launch, I had to go through Gig Harbor, over the massive Tacoma Narrows Bridge crossing the Sound and through a hilly expanse filled with pine trees and ferns that grow as tall as I am. More than the fragrance of the many pines and flowering shrubs, you can smell the earth here. As Bella said in Twilight, “It’s so green.” It is mossy and ferny […]

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Who do you think you are, Evel Knievel?

The four-hour drive from Idaho Falls to Helena, Montana, driving up Interstate 15, didn’t promise to be that interesting. I could have taken a more scenic route, but I had work to do and time was my priority. Well, except for one stop at the grave of a person I’d never met. When I left Idaho Falls, I drove into dark skies with forming clouds and a light sprinkle. I sighed heavily at the thought of having to navigate through the Montana rain again. Just the week before, I’d driven to Bozeman, Montana to get to the north Yellowstone National Park entrance and it had rained heavily. But the first few hours of the route through northeast Idaho was flat, with only a few farms peppered here and there. No scary roads to distract me and no sights to miss. As I neared the end of Idaho and the beginning of Montana, lighting started to crack around me. This lightning didn’t go across the sky in a pretty display, instead, it shot in a straight line from the sky to the Earth before giving out a loud !crack! It didn’t inspire confidence. It rained hard in bursts of a few […]

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10 Old-Timey Things Happening in Helena, Montana

Walking around Helena, Montana, I couldn’t help but think about the kind of small town it was 100 years ago. Though, technically it’s not that small, not anymore. In my mind, as I strolled down Park street, looking up at the historic fire tower, I was envisioning it as it was it when it was founded. Not much has changed, not really. The town perfectly captures the spirit of the west—the love of horses, the hilly streets, old alleys, and community gathering spots. In the early 180os, Lewis and Clark mapped Montana, and I dare say, I don’t think too much has changed. Sure, there has been sprawl, but downtown is just as it’s ever been. The town sprung up on what is still called “Last Chance Gulch” at the base of Mount Helena. That’s where I stayed in an old historic house on Benton Street. From my window, perched upon the top of a hill, I could see all downtown Helena and into the gulch. Reeder’s Alley Downtown grew from a small tent camp fill with miners into cabins, businesses and eventually, a thriving town. The Airbnb I stayed in was on a dead-end road ending at Reeder’s Alley. […]

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10 Animals Spotted on a Yellowstone Safari

If you want to see animals, you should book a Yellowstone safari. That’s my best advice. Seeing animals in Yellowstone National Park either happens by accident or by intention and otherwise not at all. Since I didn’t see any by accident, I took matters into my own hands and booked a safari. I think most of us assume that you will see animals in Yellowstone, but the truth is the park is big, probably much bigger than you think. Many people stay on the populated roads with the Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic, where the animals avoid, so you might not see any animals at all. Ok, you will probably see elk and maybe buffalo. I saw two buffalo in the populated area. Well, it could have been the same buffalo I saw twice. Hard to tell. My point is, if you really want to see animals in Yellowstone, you must go to the northeast corner where they all hang out – in Lamar Valley. Oh, and you need to know what you’re looking for – which is the part that takes years of experience. So, I booked a safari. Yellowstone Safari I booked my tour with the Yellowstone Safari […]

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Exploring the Yellowstone Hot Springs, Paint Pots, & Geysers in Photos

I spent a day at the Yellowstone hot springs, taking in the many thermal pools and soaking up the hot Sulphur breezes. They say that hot springs have healing properties, but these are more likely to boil you alive. Still, I wonder about the benefits to my skin from standing alongside so many of them throughout the day? Even though you can’t soak in these springs like others, there are still benefits, but they can only be applied like a balm to the soul.   Driving Into Yellowstone The drive into Yellowstone from Idaho takes me down a long four-lane highway with mostly industrial businesses and a few farmhouses. It goes on this way for nearly 70 miles. While the road ahead doesn’t offer much by way of interest, off to my right side is another story. Far in the distance are the jagged shark-like teeth of the Teton range. They stand out in stark relief against an otherwise bland landscape. Eventually, the Tetons are too distant to see and I settle my attention ahead. I pass small towns, just a gas station, store, motel and maybe one or two other small businesses that line the roadway. I know when […]

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Which Utah National Park is Best? It Depends on What You Value

“Mighty Five” Utah National Parks Ranked I spent five weeks in Utah and visited every Utah national park. They call them the “Mighty Five.” What surprised me the most were that the parks I expected to like the most, I liked least. While parks I’d never heard of turned out to be the best. This isn’t a review, just my impression of the parks as someone who likes to hike, enjoy the solitude of the wilderness and have my space. If you want those things too, you’ll probably like best the same parks I did. If you prefer to drive through, snap photos and be on your way, you’ll probably like the ones I liked least the best. There’s no right or wrong – there is no best or worst park. They’re all excellent. They’re all incredibly magical. I’m grateful and glad to have visited each of them. I just like some better than others. Let’s start With my Least Favorite Utah National Park 5 Arches National Park The first time I showed up at this Utah national park I joined a massive line of vehicles turning around to find something else to do because the park was closed. It’s […]

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One Day in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park

If you’re a lover of the outdoors, you’ve heard of Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Grand Tetons. It’s a place where the old west isn’t that old and the mountain ranges call you home. There aren’t many people, but any lack is made up for with mountains, streams, wildlife and the joy of a quiet country road. I’m staying within a few hours, so I took a day to explore Jackson Hole and the Grand Teton National Park. Coming from the desert, where I’ve spent the last six weeks among red dirt and rock and dry weather and hot, hot, hot sun, I am stunned and pleased with the greenness of Wyoming. There is rain and the rivers are flowing rapidly and everything is lush and blooming and just as green as can be. I don’t feel like I’ve seen anything green in ages. And if I have, it sure wasn’t this color green. Driving Mountain Roads As I drive, marveling at potato fields as I pass through Idaho, I realize how happy I am to be out of the dirt. There is something awesome about the southwest, but that heat and dirt wear you down after a while. Idaho […]

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