RenoVous

  The Riverfront Park was designed for the 1974 Expo World's Fair, but the sites along the river and falls were originally a gathering place and fishing camp for the Native Spokane tribes. The tower there is a remnant of a former railyard. An island in between two paths of the river was at one point called Canada Island, but has since been renamed to  snxw meneɂ - a Salish term meaning "salmon people."

  You know we prefer a road trip, but we've flown a time or two. I'd have to say NYC was probably our most touristy trip. In fact, we were spotted immediately as tourists, as soon as we stepped into Times Square.  We were offered comedy tickets, which was something I very much wanted to do, and we thought we got a good deal.  Turns out, you can talk those guys down to a dollar a ticket.  :-P In these regards, "tourism" and "tourist" tend to get negative connotations. We heard, in the aftermath of fires in Maui, that tourism played a big part in the drought of the island.  But now we hear businesses asking when tourists will return.  Certain stores in certain cities, especially, rely on the visitors to make ends meet. In Reno, there are a few places that largely cater to the Burning Man attendees.  Even some of the grocery stores plan on it to boost their numbers every year.  This year was the last of the Air Races, and there have already been some...

 Kenai River. Lots and lots of fishing. Camp.  <3 And nearby Ciechanski Park. Since it's Science Friday, here's something. Thanks for going through my photo album with me!!  :-)

 For this part of our trip, we headed down the Kenai Peninsula. Mt. Iliamna Cook Inlet Kachemak Bay, Homer Many people told us we had to visit The Salty Dawg. Back up towards Soldotna, where we were staying. Through the binoculars we saw a Bald Eagle there, but on a walk we met a Great Horned Owl. We also found a phone booth. And flowers. Tomorrow will be the last of the photos.  :-)

 We didn't make it all the way to the state or national park, but we found a viewing lodge. Denali. And then we took a walk around Reflections Lake. It sits right in between the flow of the Knik Arm and the Matanuska River, so there's a bit of a wetlands as well. We spent a few days in Palmer with Hubby's Auntie. She wanted to take us to the Reindeer Farm, where they also take in rescue animals, such as orphaned moose babies. We also stumbled upon a Fireweed Festival which was perfectly forest hippie. And here we got murdered by mosquitoes.

 Today we head over Hatcher Pass. Independence Mine site. I dipped my feet in Summit Lake and it was painfully cold.  :-P And this was the closest to a sunset we got, since the sun never really set.