A Few of our Favorite Things

Now that we are coming to the end of our travels for 2015, it seems a good time to reminisce on some of our favorite parts of the year.  So we took a secret ballot to try to determine if we agreed on the favorite things we did in our first year on the road in the United States.  We found that the two of us agreed on almost everything, and that we just couldn't narrow it down to our favorite one or two.  So we listed several favorite things in eight of the categories we like most about being retired.  We feel so blessed to be wandering through God's wonders on a daily basis!  Mark even went back to find some of our best pictures of our favorite places.

Favorite Kayak Trips

• Santa Elena Canyon - Big Bend National Park, TX

•  Silver Jack Lake - Uncompahgre National Park, CO

• Watson Lake - Prescott, AZ
• Lake Powell - Page, AZ
• Clear Creek Canyon - Winslow, AZ

Favorite Long Hikes

• Blue Lakes - Ridgeway, CO

• South Colony Lakes - Westcliffe, CO

• The Narrows - Zion National Park, UT

• Bright Angel/South Kaibab - Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

• Peek-a-Boo Trail - Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

• La Luz - Albuquerque, NM
• South Rim - Big Bend National Park, TX
• Angel's Landing - Zion National Park, UT
• Little Bear Canyon - Gila Cliff Dwellings National Park, TX

Favorite Short Hikes

• Tent Rocks National Memorial - Santa Fe, NM

• Antelope Canyon - Page, AZ
• Enchanted Rock State Park - Fredericksburg, TX
• Closed Canyon - Big Bend Ranch State Park, TX
• Grosvener Arch - Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, UT
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO hike to the bottom (on Mark's list but certainly not Denisa's)
• Saguaro National Park - Tucson, AZ
• Hike to the Refrigerator/Freezer for Ice Cream (again on Mark's list)

Favorite Bike Rides

• Lower Loop - Crested Butte, CO

• Mission River Trail - San Antonio, TX

Favorite State Parks

• Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas

• City of Rocks, Texas
• Hueco Tanks, Texas
• Enchanted Rock, Texas
• Davis Mountains, Texas (because of their great ranger presentations)

Favorite Towns

• Prescott, AZ

• Montrose, CO
• Gruene, TX
• Albuquerque, NM
• South Fork, CO

Favorite Festivals/Parades

• International Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque, NM

• Illuminated Christmas Parade - McAllen, TX
• Sweet Corn Festival - Olathe, CO
• Citrus Festival - Mission, TX

Favorite Foods (we ate in mass quantities)

• Colorado Peaches

• Texas Citrus
• Amish Fried Pies
• Texas Tomatoes
• Utah Apples
• Ice Cream Anywhere and Everywhere (on Mark's list)