Super-fantastic Journeys

Welcome to Bouchon | Steven Yackel We had the amazing pleasure of eating at Bouchon Bistro while on a day of wine tasting in Napa Valley.  We had secured a reservation in advance which I highly recommend to ensure that you get to enjoy this unique restaurant.  It was a beautiful June day when we went and we were fortunate to get to eat outside.  While you are right along the road they have done an amazing job at designing the space so you are transported to this special place where you can focus on the food and the friends you are sharing it with. Bouchon Bistro - Helena, CA | Steven Yackel We started our meal with two items off of the appetizer menu.  The first was a daily special item, Merguez.  This was a lamb and beef sausage, served on a bed of Israeli Couscous, cucumbers, tomatoes and olives dressed with a phenomenal vinaigrette and dill.  This was the best dish by far and had such complexity of flavors, it was the perfect way to start. Merguez | Steven Yackel We also got an oder

When you think about visiting the desert you do not think about all the diversity of plant life that calls this place home.  Take the cactus, for example, there are over 2000 different species of plants that are classified as cactus.  The Tucson Botanical Gardens provides visitors with an opportunity to explore much more about the plants that can be grown in the area, and to see and learn much more about the mighty cactus family. Located on five acres in the middle of Tuscon, the botanical gardens presents visitors with the ability to stroll through different gardens and enjoy the well-curated plants and sculptures that can thrive in the desert.   While we were visiting in November 2020 the gardens had a special exhibit called  La Calavera Catrina  which featured large colorful sculptures celebrating the rich culture celebrated during Dia De Los Muertos.  The exhibit was created by the Denver Botanical Garden and was featured here for the first time as a traveling exhibit. When you ent

The community of Denton, Texas is located north of the DFW area about 30 minutes and is home to multiple colleges, so it is no surprise that they have multiple breweries for all those thirsty students and the rest of us beer lovers.  There are currently four breweries located in Denton along with a number of other tap houses.   Let's Get a Drink in Denton: 1. - Armadillo Ale Works Brews on Tap:  15+ Food:  Food Truck on Location Indoor Seating:  Yes Patio Seating: Yes Wait Staff: No Beer to go: Yes, cans, and growlers Web Site:   www.armadilloaleworks.com Located in a trending section of Denton just southwest of the town square, Armadillo Ale House is a local brewery that you do not want to miss.  Their wide selection of beers provides something for everyone no matter what your favorite style of beer might be.   When we visited they had over 15 beers on tap and had some great seasonal and limited release beers on tap as well. The location is easy to get to and there was plenty of

 Fort Richardson State Park located near Jacksboro Texas provides hikers with four short hiking trails that feature different micro-ecosystems within the park.  The trails are not very long and are probably not noteworthy if you are traveling there just for the hiking.  If you are camping or already find yourself in the area then these trails will take you to some of the best spots in the park. I have ranked these hikes in my order of preference.  I visited in early November so the leaves were changing color and it wad for a really pretty day. I ended up hiking all four of these trails in one morning.  I arrived a little after nine o'clock and was off the trail by noon.  The trails do not connect so you have to move to a new trailhead to start each of the hikes. 1. South West Bank of Lost Creek Trail Distance: 1 mile Elevation Gain: 46 feet Moving Time: 29:13 Total Time: 32:32 Difficulty: East My Rating: 4 Stars AllTrails Link This trail  2. Rumbling Springs Trail Distance: 1 mile

This awesome shot of downtown Fort Worth was on a southbound departure from DFW airport to Phoenix, Arizona.  Was sitting in 11F when I took the shot. You can really see the buildings clearly and the Trinity river as it winds through town.

 The rock formations around Sedona Arizona make it a hiker's heaven. The red rock makes exploring by foot an ideal way to experience the area and see the sites from new perspectives.  These are the hikes that I have completed in the Sedona area.  I have many more that I want to return to hike again on future trips to the area.  If you are here during the summer months I highly recommend getting up just before the sun and try to be out on the trail at sunrise.  The benefits of this are that the hiking temperatures are much more friendly and if you are lucky you will actually be able to find a parking spot at the trailhead. It is important to know that for any trailhead that is developed in the area, meaning it has a restroom, you are going to need to have a Red Rocks access pass.  The pass is $5 a day and multiple day passes are available.  Some of the more popular trailheads have a kiosk where you can purchase a pass with a credit card, but others may not have this convenience. The

 Tuzigoot National Monument is a 53-acre site managed by the National Park Service near Clarksdale, Arizona.  The site became protected as a national monument in 1939 and is an example of the culture and housing of the protects and honors the ruins of a Sinagua people from 1125 CE to 140 CE before they moved north and east to what is now part of the Hopi reservation. This is a fee site for the National Park Service and will require payment on most days.  We were very lucky and happened to hit it on a free park day. Normally the fee is $10 per adult, children under 16 are free.  The fee is good for seven days and will also allow you to enter Montezuma's Castle National Monument. When you arrive and park in the loop lot you can head up the steps to the visitor center.  The visitor center has some interesting displays about the people who inhabited Tuzigoot and some items that were found when the site was excavated.  There is also a nice gift shop located in the visitors center.  Ther