Super-fantastic Journeys

I absolutely love travel locations that focus on food, so it should not be a surprise that I had to visit the Best Maid Pickle Emporium.  Living in Texas for 12 years, Best Maid Pickles are a part of the local food culture.  Best Maid Pickles have been being produced since 1947 in the same factory since 1947.  They have grown and changed with the times, so they now offer a wider variety of pickle options.  I love trying different types of pickles and love to snack on a jar of pickles while I am preparing dinner.    The Pickle Emporium is Best Maid's latest addition, providing pickle lovers a place to come and find everything possible related to pickles.  While 90% of the Pickle Emporium is focused on merchandise and food items, there are a few displays that show the pickle making process.  The store is just a fun place to visit and Smily, the Best Maid character is standing proudly over the store.  If you are coming for food items you will not be disappointed.  You will find pickle

South Valley Park is an open space park in Jefferson County Colorado.  Consisting of 995 Acres this park sits in a unique valley on the west side of a rock uplift called the Hogback.  The park has numerous red rock formations similar to the rocks at Red Rocks Amphitheater or Garden of the Gods, just smaller.  There are two separate parking lots at the park.  The north lot is large and has lots of space, while the south parking spot is smaller but still has a good number of spots.  Restrooms are available to hikers at both parking lots.  The upper parking area also has picnic spots available after your hiking journey. There are 7.7 miles of Trail available in the park.  The trails create a variety of different loops of varying lengths.  Most of the trails in the park are rated as easy with a few sections that are rated moderate because of the increased steepness.  All Trails has eight different trails listed for this open-space park.  Connector trails also connect this park to other ope

After 27 years away from the Denver area, we are headed back home to be able to explore the great outdoors and do what we love best.  We have moved to Wisconsin, Oregon, Washing, and Texas in pursuit of a career, and after 33 years I am pleased that we can take a giant leap of faith and get back to the state and community that is the best fit for us. I am looking forward to hitting the trail and have set a goal to hike 100 new trails in the remainder of 2023.  If the route is plotted out on All Trails then I will count it.  Some of the trails will take us high up into the Rocky Mountains, while others may be more urban trails in open spaces and parks around the city.  Hiking is my number one outdoor pursuit.  I like to be out enjoying the outdoors, being self-reliant and focused on my surroundings.  Hiking can be challenging at times and you have to overcome some tough moments, but it allows you to really connect with the environment like nothing else. As we return I am also looking fo