janjanzen

Orleans is charming! My husband and I went there in February 2009 to visit our daughter who is a student at the University. I can’t wait to go back. It was beautiful even in winter. The cobblestone streets, the architecture, the River Loire… there is more I want to see and do. We enjoyed the Art Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Museum of Jeanne D’Arc. The cathedral is breathtaking. There are many great places to eat – lots of ethnic restaurants… and the patisseries! There are no pastries like that in Kansas! It’s easy to get around in Orleans. We used the tram often, though we also walked a lot. I am looking forward to my return in July.

While en route to Ontario, my family made a stop for lunch at Betty’s Pies. I had read about it in a travel guide; it exceeded our expectations. There was a lengthy wait to get in, but it was worth it! This diner is legendary in the area and has been around for ages. The sandwiches were great, but the pie… oh, the pie! You must try it! There are many delightful flavors ranging from tasty traditional such as pecan or lemon meringue to deliciously unique flavors like Bumble Berry Pie and Five-layer chocolate. I highly recommend the five-layer chocolate pie. With cinnamon meringue layered over a melt-in-your-mouth flaky crust, creamy chocolate filling, cinnamon-laced whipped cream topped with chocolate-cinnamon whipped cream, it’s a pie-lovers fantasy! We liked the restaurant so much that we planned our return trip to take us through Two Harbors again so that we could enjoy another scrumptious meal there. Not long after returning home to Kansas, I purchased the cookbook “Betty’s Pies Favorite Recipes” and I love it! If you can’t make it to the restaurant you should buy the book and bake some pie!

This is a beautiful place to visit when the leaves are turning. The rustic cabins are really quite nice, most (if not all) have a fireplace. The restaurant in Mather Lodge had good food that was reasonably priced. It’s a wonderful area to go hiking. Look for the Indian pictographs in Rock House Cave.

We visited here on our way to Ontario. It’s beautiful! We enjoyed hearing the history and touring the lighthouse and the surrounding area. I would like to go back and stay in the area; we saw many cabins nestled on the shore of Lake Superior. You must stop to eat at Betty’s Pies in Two Harbors. There will be a line, but it’s well worth the wait! The meals are terrific and the pies are out of this world!

Manitou Springs is a fun little town, and you can find some great restaurants and shops nestled in among the tourist traps. The slightly shabby arcade is a must-see; plan to spend some time there because this type of old-fashioned fun is hard to find these days.

This park is intended for young children, but we still love it after all these years. It’s a great value for the money; the food is reasonably priced by amusement park standards. You rarely have to wait in long lines, and the view from the ferris wheel is awesome! The Christmas theme is fun, and there are many gift shops, some with unique items. Take in the magic show – it’s always a hoot!

Don’t just drive through. Spend some time there so you can truly appreciate the beauty of the Garden of the Gods. If you have been there before and plan to go again, I recommend that you take a trail ride. It will give you a completely different perspective of those incredible rock formations. It’s much more peaceful that way as well – you rarely see or hear the traffic! We always end our trip by staying to watch the sunset. It’s inspiring and incredibly beautiful. On our last visit we saw black bears in addition to the usual deer, chipmunks, magpies, etc.

Salida is surrounded by mountains. It’s beautiful, and there are many interesting things to see and do. We always have to go up Spiral Drive for the view. There is river rafting nearby. The jeep tours are fun. We enjoy horseback riding on the mountain trails; it’s so peaceful up there and of course there are breathtaking views around every bend. There are great places to shop and to dine. We especially love the Country Bounty – good food and homemade pies, plus a charming gift shop to browse in.