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All posts for the month July, 2019

Beat the Heat in Pismo

Posted by golfkat on July 16, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment
In order to beat the Valley heat, we are once again driving over to Pismo Beach on the central coast of California.  So, not only do we love the cooler weather, our little Labradoodle, Lexi loves it too.  And we get to eat at some of our favorite places, like Ember in Arroyo Grande, since they have an outdoor patio dining area where Lexi is welcome!!!
The mostly boring drive of about three hours is tolerable. But summer lodging rates on the beach are somewhat inflated, though not as bad as the Monterey Peninsula or further south in Santa Barbara.  I guess we should not complain!  And most all of them charge extra for having even a small dog in the room.
But once we get here, we enjoy ourselves immensely.  While the cooler weather draws us, we end up doing the same things: dining, walking, taking Lexi to the beach, maybe some wine tasting, and light shopping.
Something funny about Pismo was chronicled in the old TV show, Dragnet.  Joe Friday’s partner at the time, Harry Morgan (aka Colonel Sherman Potter in MASH), plays Bill Gannon.  He takes a disability retirement in Pismo Beach.  After eating clam chowder for about 8 months, Bill’s health returns, and his teeth stop falling out!  He is reinstated to the LAPD, and tells Joe Friday the reason for his return to health, “The clams, Joe, the clams.”
One of my favorite stops these days is the Firestone Walker Brewery in Paso Robles, just off Highway 101.  Again, they have a shaded outdoor patio for us to eat, enjoy some 805 (my favorite beer, a blond ale, now), and allow Lexi to join us while we eat.  So, not only are the craft beers (usually a dozen or more) excellent, the food is also equally good and interesting.
If you get over to the coast, I highly recommend dining at Ember.  The food and ambience is unmatched, not only for this area, but stands up to most places in the Bay Area as well.  Their website touts, “Ember is all about authentic hand-crafted food cooked by a wood fire.  We aim to create the ideal environment to experience Central Coast food and wine.”  We have enjoyed many memorable meals there.  Just remember, they open at 4pm, do not take reservations, and are closed Monday and Tuesday.  Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded them one of the top 100 wine restaurants in America.
Maybe there are some other things to do without food or wine?  I doubt it.

Central Coast Follies

Posted by golfkat on July 15, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Sports, Travel. Leave a comment
For those of you who already love the central coast, the great wines and weather, I need not say or write more.  For those of you unfamiliar, here is a short but sweet laundry list of things to do.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park (for thank sinking feeling)
Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary (for the adventurous)
Whale watching (Have you read Melville?)
Hearst Castle (for Julia Morgan fans)
The Missions- six different missions on the El Camino Real (not the position!)
Pinnacles National Park-the newest national park (Thank you, Mr. President!!!)
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (a plethora of nature)
Solvang-a bit of Denmark in California (home of tennis great, Rocket Rod Laver)
Natural Bridges State Beach (no dentists allowed!)
Ember-our favorite restaurant on the central coast
Firestone-Walker Brewery in San Luis Obispo (with outdoor patio for Lexi)
The California Market in Pismo-lots of good natural and organic food choices
The Beach-Lexi loves it!!!
Cool weather!!!
Most of these attractions are outdoor activities.  I have already covered wine tasting, hanging out at the beach, cycling the coast, or playing a few rounds of golf.  We are going mostly to relax, and dine at our new favorite restaurant in the entire world, Ember, in Arroyo Grande.  When you are in the area, please eat here, you will not regret it!!!  In fact, we are meeting dear friends here on Sunday eve.
I may also see some friends, like the old “Bagman” from college.  He was not a bagman in the traditional sense, no drugs involved!  He was known to wear only a paper bag over his head, no other clothing, other than sneakers and socks, and make a midnight circuit around a huge, one block area consisting of a women’s only dormitory!!!!
NOTE:  There are some wineries, like Laetitia in Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast making sparkling wines, mostly all chardonnay based, but not too bad.  But just in case, I have my favorite Veuve du Vernay from Loire, France, just in case!!!!  See you there!
It is cool, man, cool!

Seriously, Some Pizza Pie

Posted by golfkat on July 14, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Food. Leave a comment
Now, this is just astounding:  Every man, woman, and child in the nation eats an average of 23 pounds of pizza annually — that translates to around 46 slices — adding up to a total of about 3 billion pies. To break the pie chart down another way, about 350 slices get consumed every second of the day.
So, assuming I can eat three slices of pizza at one sitting, this means that we order a pizza at least 15 times a year, or better than once a month.  For us, that is probably a little high. We probably order a pizza for delivery once a month, and have one pizza at Serious Pie in Seattle on our annual June trek.

I think the stats might be somewhat skewed by events like Super Bowl Sunday, and other holidays.
Record books say that hot dog eating champ, Joey Chestnut, set the world record by eating 45 slices of pizza in TEN minutes!!!!  That is almost my total for an entire year.  If I eat one pizza a month, 3 slices per sitting, that totals only 36!!!!
However, it is the Norwegians who eat the most pizza.  They consume ELEVEN pies per person per year, or almost one pie per month!!!  Maybe they get tired of eating pickled herring?
FYI, the largest pizza EVER, measured 13,508.28 square feet, and gluten free no less!  It was made in, you guessed it, Rome, by five Italian pizza masters.
Enough pizza for now.  Let me have my second cup of coffee!!!

Pimm’s Cup No. 1 at Wimbledon

Posted by golfkat on July 8, 2019
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From my trip to Wimbledon in 2009.  Today is day one of the tournament.  It might be a little too warm for me there, right now!
I had a very refreshing and intoxicating drink at Wimbledon last week, and again today.  Here is more about it.  I may start drinking it when I get back home.

With Wimbledon kicking off this week it seems like the whole world has tennis fever. Even if you don’t know your backhands from your forehands, the tournament is a good reason to sample one of Britain’s tastiest exports: the Pimm’s Cup. Traditionally made from Pimm’s Cup No. 1, lemon juice, a soda like ginger ale or 7-Up (or sometimes lemonade and soda) and garnished with a cucumber, the cocktail first made its mark in the mid-19th century as a British summer favorite. London bar owner James Pimm began serving the concoction as a digestif, and it became so popular that he bottled his own gin-based liquor, Pimm’s Cup No. 1, for sale.

What started as hand candy for British socialites is now the official drink of Wimbledon. Several London restaurants are rolling out their own versions of the classic drink: Mixed Doubles (Pimm’s, strawberries and Lanson Champagne) at Bluebird, for example. And stateside, the New York branch of London’s Soho House is serving up the Wimbledon Pitcher. This party-sized Pimm’s-with-a-twist-includes strawberries, oranges, and some Hendrick’s Gin for an extra kick. Not a member? We’ve got the classic and the Soho House version after the jump so you can make them at home. Just don’t attempt hit the courts afterward.

I was able to get to the famous Court #1 to see Ivo Parlevic, a 6’8″ Serb pound millions of aces against Fernando Verdasco in a spirited match with 3 tie breakers.  Then the highlight was getting to see the remaining American male, Andy Roddick, the 6th seed, against a fellow named Tomas Berych, the 20th seeded Czech I think.  Andy’s serves register easily in the 130 mph+ range.  Andy won in three straight sets.  He is a fan favorite here as well, perhaps more than the local boy, Andy Murray.

It was my last day at Wimbledon, as I need tomorrow to run some errands, and rest up for the long flight home on Wednesday.  Those of you who noticed my reportage regarding bikini tops and halters, should know that today was bare chested day.  I think the females were arrested, but the males were left to run unfettered.  I think the streakers were camped out overnight, and wanted to go to the nearby jail for a shower.

Also, no big scandals here this week.  With Jacko and Farah getting all the press, this City is relatively calm with the dirt and slander.

But I did meet two nice people in my 3 hour queue.  One, a local Indi-Brit lady who runs her own consulting company.  The other an Aussie lass with her Mum, who is taking two years off to travel the world.  It really helps pass the time in the queue to have interesting people to talk to.

I also got to see the new American female phenom, Melanie Oudin, from Marietta, GA.  She almost beat the Polish 11th seed, Agnes Radwanska.  Mel is only 17, and had to enter through qualifying.  She needs some work on her mobility and her serve.  Last week, she beat the former top ranked women, Jelena Jankovic .  But she will be at Wimbledon for years to come.  Another highlight was watching the U.S. pair, the Bryan Brothers, Bob and Mike, the number one ranked team in the world.  Bob, the lefty is better than Mike, but together, they are just about unbeatable.  They move about like gazelles in heat.

Speaking of heat, it is quite warm here, though they finally closed the 100 million British pound roof today when it sprinkled for about two minutes.  I will be coming home looking more like I spent 11 days at the beach.

Pimm’s Cup
1 1/2 oz Pimm’s Cup No. 1
1 dash lemon juice
7-Up or ginger ale, chilled
1 peeled cucumber wheel
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the Pimms and lemon juice and shake well. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Stir in the 7-Up and garnish with the cucumber wheel. The actual Wimbledon version has ice in the GLASS for obvious reasons.

Wimbledon Pitcher (serves 4)
5 mint leaves
4 cucumber slices
2 strawberries, chopped (rough chop)
3 lemon wedges
3 orange wedges
8 oz Pimm’s Cup No. 1
Sprite
2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
Chop all the fruit and put it in a pitcher. Then, add some ice and the Pimm’s. Top with Sprite, finish with Hendrick’s Gin, and stir gently with a big spoon or ladle.

Maybe next year, we will have a Wimbledon party with lots of Pimm’s.wimb10s osakaamanda

Gerry’s Best Quotes 2019 (Jan to June)

Posted by golfkat on July 7, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Music, Travel. Leave a comment
As we begin a new year, I want to focus a little more on reflection than solely on travel.  To broaden the quotes is to broaden one’s horizons, so to speak.  So, any quote is open for saving, discussing, or discarding.  Trying something new is always a great adventure, right?
This might be a great way to start the new year.
And there is always room for some good lyrics:
Simply, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” by Aretha Franklin
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all” – Helen Keller
 
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”— Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Life is meant for good friends and great adventures” – Anonymous (I like this one)
“In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him
‘Til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains.” – Paul Simon, who sang “The Boxer” on June 3, 2016, at our concert in the Greek Theater, UC Berkeley, when he told us that Muhammad Ali had passed away.
“A work of art has no importance whatever to society. It is only important to the individual.” – Vladimir Nabokov
“He was a wise man who invented beer.” – Plato
“The legislature finds that the cigarette is considered the deadliest artifact in human history.” – State of Hawaii Legislature (trying to pass a bill to ban smoking in Hawaii).
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.” – Edward Abbey (Moab’s most famous alum)
“Fascism is cured by reading, racism is cured by traveling” – Miguel de Unamuno (whoever he is)
“Education is not something you can finish” – Isaac Asimov
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another” – William James
“Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
“Bicycling is a big part of the future.  It has to be.  There’s something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in the gym.” – Bill Nye, scientist.
“Americans fear that former Trump staffers will be released into their cities” – Any Borowitz, The New Yorker
“Learn from the mistakes of others.  You can never live long enough to make them all yourself” – Groucho Marx
“Every man is guilty of the good he did not do” – Voltaire
“Be strong, I whisper to my coffee” -Anon.
“You can lead a man to Congress, but you can’t make him think” – Milton Berle
“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company” – Mark Twain
“I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown.  There was a dish called Mother and Child Reunion.  It’s chicken and eggs.  And I said, I gotta use that one” – Paul Simon
“I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you” – Robin Williams
“As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it” – Buddy Hackett
“The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world” – Susan B. Anthony
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Tony Bourdain
Again, I invite you to share your favorite quotes with me.  See you again in December!!!oldman19cycle66quotes gm

How to Be the Perfect House Guest

Posted by golfkat on July 6, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment
Is there such a thing?  With a little effort, even you can be invited back for another visit.  From the great great granddaughter, Lizzie Post of Emily Post:  Having a free place to stay is the ultimate money-saving dream scenario for travelers, whether it’s a pied-à-terre in Paris, a house in the Hamptons, or a tiny flat in Tokyo. How do you handle yourself in the wonderful scenarios when no money changes hands?
Here is a good rule:  leave the house in as good or better condition than you found it.  Also, do not snoop around, and don’t go in rooms that you do not need.  Closing off rooms and leaving them untouched is a great idea.  Make sure you ask about internet, cable, security. and what is off limits.  Oh, and just so there are no surprises, find out when the cleaning service is scheduled.
One big question arises with food and booze.  Unless otherwise specified, bring your own everything, save for spices and condiments.  This means your own produce, meat, and carbs.  And if you buy some of your favorite items, make sure you leave them for your hosts.  Replace anything that you finish of theirs!
Now for the all important “thank you” gesture.  Often times a nice bottle of wine or liquor is appropriate if your hosts consume alcohol.    An inexpensive vase with fresh flowers are a nice welcome home for your hosts, along with a nice note.  I would opt for the nice bottle of wine.
 
Having been a houseguest in the past, I can share a few good and bad things.  One centered on the alarm system, which went off, scared the “sh*t” out of us.  We were able to contact the owners and keep the security patrol and police away.
 
But more embarrassing was the time I walked through the patio screen door!  And the owners were home!!!!  I felt terrible, but they were quite understanding.  Their screen was practically invisible!!!
 
Of course, the rules are a little different if your hosts are home with you.  First, I always bring a gift from home.  Second, I make sure I pay for several meals since we tend to dine together.  Third, I try to take care of the bed sheets and towels upon departure.  And if a vacuum cleaner is nearby, I will do a quick once over of my room.
 
I have heard of horror stories, like losing the host’s house pet, or leaving the AC or heater on high upon departure.  A friend wanted me to drive their car so the battery would not run down.  Did I remember?  No!
 
My worst experience occurred at an AirBnB in Nawlins at the Super Bowl.  I bought my own wine, but my hosts drank it.  There was no shower soap in the shower.  The key to the front door was never left under the door mat.  Shall I tell you more?
 
Sometimes, things work out pretty good.  Such was my visit to Dirty Pat and Renee’ in Bucharest.  The only problem was a squeaky, make that very squeaky bathroom door in my bedroom.  Otherwise, it was a near perfect trip, with great meals, and lots of good times.  Oh, and the four flights of circular stairs, as the elevator was broken.  It served as my gym workout several times a day.
 
As a small child, I remember staying at someone’s home with my family.  Somehow, their toy train ended up in my suitcase!!!  Just don’t be that young child that I was!!!bad housebad house1bad

The Big 4th of July Barbecue

Posted by golfkat on July 5, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment
I often wondered how much food Americans eat on this greatest of American holidays.  I know the Super Bowl probably means we eat more total food.  But the 4th tends to focus on the regular meats and sides that are so very American and traditional.

According to one recent survey, pizza is our favorite thing to eat, followed by steak. Be that as it may, the definitive American foods – those that virtually define our national cuisine, and that are indelibly associated with summer – are hot dogs and hamburgers. (Both, incidentally, are among the foods you probably didn’t know were named after places – at least if we give dogs their more formal name, frankfurters.)

How much do we like burgers and dogs? We eat an estimated 50 billion burgers and 20 billion dogs per year – about 156 and 70 per person, respectively.

Chicago likes to call itself the hot dog capital of the world, but in fact Los Angeles consumes more wieners than any other city – about 31 million pounds annually – beating out second and third place New York and Philadelphia. Chicago is No. 5 on the list.

During peak hot dog season, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Americans eat a total of around 7 billion franks. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, on the Fourth of July alone, 150 million dogs get consumed – enough to stretch between L.A. and Washington, D.C., more than five times.

No comparable organization seems to track burger stats for Independence Day, but if roughly 140 million burgers are eaten per day, based on per capita consumption, and we eat two-and-a-half times as many burgers as dogs overall, that could mean that the burger tally is around 375 million burgers that day.

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, it’s clearly time to fire up those grills. We’ve got a lot of eating to do – even if they are among the unhealthiest foods you can put in your body.  The total is $6.8 billion.

California totals:Total sales per state resident at burger & hot dog restaurants: $272

• Estimated hamburgers eaten per capita annually: 264 (3rd highest)

• Estimated hot dogs eaten per capita annually: 207 (21st lowest)

• Population, 2017: 39,536,653

We are going to have a marinated flank steak, grilled veggies and corn, maybe some rice, and apple pie for dessert.

Note the subject of beer should be somewhat revealing as well.  Americans will drink over a billion dollars of beer!
We will also spend over a billion dollars on fireworks.
When we were kids, we always wanted to spend the day swimming, as it helped pass the long daylight hours.  Towards evening, the barbecue would start.  Our usual fare was chicken for the adults, and burgers and hot dogs for us kids.  My aunt who was famous for her baking always make her trademark homemade Danishes

, along with plenty of pies, cakes, and cookies.  And we also probably consumed several bottles of soda pop.

But no matter, the day was always magical for us:  swimming barbecuing, playing baseball, and lighting fireworks after dark.  It was always one of my favorite holidays.

My Fourth of July Sparklers

Posted by golfkat on July 5, 2019
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I know what you are thinking.  No, I am not in favor of those little wires covered with a thick batter of slow burning pyrotechnic composition.  Metallic fuel, the size of particles, influences the appearance of sparks.  The colors are white (aluminum or magnesium), orange (iron), rich white (titanium), and yellow gold (ferrotitanium). And other pyrotechnic colorants, of course.
I am limiting my Fourth to sparkling wines, my kind of sparklers.
Summer celebrations are the perfect time to chill several bottles of sparkling wines, champagnes, or lighter whites and rose’s.  You can even cheat a little by putting a few ice cubes (dare I say?) in your glass of white or rose’ wine.
Just a brief reminder for those of you not sure what to buy and drink.  Unless you want to follow my recommendations, try something reasonably priced, like a Prosecco (also pictured above), sauvignon blanc or rose’ around the $10 to $15 price range.  There is no need to pay more than $20 unless it is a very special occasion.
My every day sparkling is from Loire, France, called Veuve du Vernay brut rose’ priced well under $10 a bottle.  A photo of the bottle is shown above.  It can be found in most wine stores like Bev Mo, Total Wine, or K&L.
Trader Joe’s is a good place for beginners and pros alike.  If you happen the catch the wine “specialist” stocking or reordering, do not be afraid to talk to him about his favorites.  My last visit to TJs centered on finding a good Pomerol from Bordeaux, specifically Saint Emilion, where I went cycling in May.
Secret ingredient:  For those of you who like a little “pizzazz” in their wine, try a splash or two of elderflower liquor, otherwise known as Saint Germain liqueur.  Just a splash will render even the cheapest sparkling wine into a drinkable taste treat!
Friends are another good source of wine knowledge.  Don’t be afraid to ask.  And always keep in mind my only rule about wine:  If you like it, that is all that matters.  Try not to worry about what others like or might say about your choices.
So, quite simply, these are my summer sparklers.
For those of you hitting the road, drive safely, and always drive sober.  Look at this:  A record-breaking 48.9 million Americans will travel for Independence Day this year, according to a new American Automobile Association (AAA) report. This is the most AAA has recorded since it began tracking holiday travel in 2000, with 1.9 million more people planning a getaway for July 4 this year than last.

The Sunday Dinner

Posted by golfkat on July 5, 2019
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food. Leave a comment
Few things are as memorable as our wonderful Sunday family dinners when we were growing up.  We spent almost every Sunday, after church, with our relatives from Sanger.  These were on my Mom’s side, her Mom (our Grandmother), her younger brother’s, and older sister’s families, who lived next door to each other.  They visited us, or we visited them, EVERY Sunday, for family time, great meals, an afternoon of playing the seasonal sport.
“The family that eats together thrives together,” says Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, a registered psychologist and parenting expert. “Mealtime has historically been a time of family togetherness. Plus, if you’re getting multiple generations together, then there is tapestry of diversity in terms of ages and interests and that is just so good for kids.”
I believe this.  In fact, the best example I can give is my Aunt and recently deceased Uncle in Long Beach.  Through the years, every Sunday evening was family meal time.  It did not matter if their grown children and their families were off skiing or boating outside of the LA basin.  And it did not matter if the grandkids were “away” at college.  They would come every Sunday, without fail.  My Aunt would spend most of the day on Sunday cooking!  It was a joy to see, and we were often included.
My cousins down on the family farm in Kingsburg also have a Sunday family ritual.  They visit my Aunt, who resides in a memory care facility in Fresno.  They bring both grandkids, and even the family dog.  And they share a meal, though not home cooked like my Aunt in Long Beach.  But they spend several hours together, despite the distance, both in miles and the cruel memory loss of my Aunt.
Having three grandparents around was also a valuable lesson, though we may not have realized it at the time.  They were very old fashioned, but were always there, across the street, to help us.  We would get a dollar for every “A” at report card time.  They would go to all of our school sports and music events.  But mostly, they were there for emotional support, and a place of refuge, if we had to “escape” our home for a short time.  Particularly when my Mom made liver!
When I hear of family issues with today’s millennials, and the lack of support structure in their lives. I look back to these wonderful memories.  We never had an opportunity for trouble, because we wanted to be with our families.  My paternal grandparents lived across the street for most of our lives.  They were not only our safety net, but they provided meals and an opportunity to earn money from chores around the farm.  It was special!
Anne Fishel, Ph.D., a family therapist and co-founder of The Family Dinner Project, a non-profit initiative that encourages families to connect over mealtime, tells me that there are numerous benefits of families eating together. “The benefits range from the cognitive ones (young kids having bigger vocabularies and older kids doing better in school) to the physical ones (better cardiovascular health, lower obesity rates and eating more vegetables and fruits) to psychological ones (lower rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse and fewer behavioral problems in school).”

Fishel says that what’s for dinner doesn’t matter — it’s the communal environment that you create that makes all the difference.

Yes, this is part of what is missing in our daily lives now.  It was a wonderful time.  Simple, easy, and so meaningful.  There are no rules, just keep it going!
How can we restore these traditions today?  I would start with a simple idea:  “Join us for dinner tonight.”  You might be surprised at the answer.
PS:  Have everyone put their phones and smart devices away too!!!

Best Road Trips

Posted by golfkat on July 3, 2019
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, National Parks, Travel. Leave a comment
The Top 10 Road Trips in America, According to Geotab

Southwest routes dominated the top 10.

  1. Monument Valley Trails

2.  Yellowstone and the Tetons
3. Mesa Verde and San Juan
4. Along the Missouri River
5. Blue Ridge Parkway
6.  Oregon’s Pacific Coast
7. Colorado’s Rockies
8. Grand Canyon Road Trip
9. Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
10. Bryce & Zion National Parks

How many have you done?  I will bet some of my dear friends, like the Bergs and Barnes families have done these.

More about Numero Uno:  “Awe-inspiring views of the rock formations of Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods and the Natural Bridges National Monument are enough to make this road trip an all-time classic,” the Monument Valley Trails entry reads. “The route heads out on Highway 163 then follows a counter-clockwise loop, with detours for Hovenweep National Monument, Blanding and the natural bridges.
Monument Valley is tough to beat.  I was just there in April, perfect weather, crowds not too heavy.  If it was good enough for Forrest, it is good enough for me!
As summer has arrived, think about a road trip to one of our fabulous National Parks.  Along the way, you may end up on one of these fabulous highways.