Travel Explore Relax LLC

24/04/2024

April 14th, 2024

We started our journey early Sunday morning to Las Cruces, New Mexico. We left Yukon at 4:00 AM that morning and arrived at the in-laws’ at 5:10 AM. After a fun game of Tetris, the car was fully loaded and ready to go by 5:17 AM.

We made a stop at Cracker Barrel (tradition for the husband and me) in Amarillo, TX.

We headed south from I-40 on a diagonal path to our destination. We enjoyed the smells of “money” throughout Hereford, TX to Clovis, NM.

A valuable lesson was also learned when in New Mexico that when you see a restroom, you need to stop at that time if you need to potty even a little bit because you never know when you’ll find the next stop.

Our next stop was in the fun little town of Ruidoso, NM for lunch at Hall of Flame Burgers. A fun bonus for this find was parking was not convenient. This meant we were able to get out of the car and do some walking to help stretch our legs on the way to and from the restaurant. Husband also pointed out an olive oil store on our way back and Marie found a great balsamic vinegar to take home.

We were finally on the last leg of our journey for the day. While we listened to an episode of Sword and Scale, we passed through Alamogordo and saw the World’s Largest Pistachio alongside the road. Who knew pistachios were such a crop in New Mexico?! We also caught a glimpse of White Sands National Park.

We finally arrived to our destination around 4:00 PM MTD. After we unloaded all of our things in Casa Turquesa (a great find via AirBnB at the foot of the Organ Mountains), we found a place to go grab the last meal of the day at Tacos & Shell-ah's – followed by frozen custard at Caliche’s Frozen Custard.

Adventure time:

12 hours 30 minutes
653 miles

04/11/2023

Then fun with road trips with my husband is we don't really have an agenda. If we get tired and want to roam around, we can. As we traveled along I-40, we decided to stop off at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. My neighbor (who I asked to watch the house while we were gone) suggested we stop off there.

Don't let the word "forest" confuse you though. You're not going through a sea of trees. You're traveling through 346 square miles of petrified wood. The amount of natural history here is amazing. You can see it all around you. Whether it's looking at the fossils of trees from the late Triassic Epoch (225 million years ago) or seeing where the old Route 66 once was.

As a huge fan of FRIENDS, I kept thinking of Ross Geller. My husband, who was not on Team FRIENDS in the 90s, did not get my humor.🤷

This tour was a 28 mile adventure with plenty of stops along the way. If you're ever in the area (just west of the AZ/NM line), I highly recommend making a stop.

Be sure to follow if you don't already. Pretty entertaining stuff.

03/11/2023

We are officially in November! You know what that means? It's officially time for Christmas.😉 I know this is a touchy subject for folks. No matter whether you're for or against decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving, you KNOW Christmas gifts are at least starting to be thought about.

The husband and I took a trip to Scottsdale, AZ. Scottsdale is a suburb to Pheonix. We made a little road trip out of it. Even a "kinda-hippie" style. Since it's just the two of us, we tried something new for this road trip. We departed for our trip at 10:00 PM. AND I folded down the seats in the back of the Highlander, and threw in a twin size mattress and hooked up the DVD player. We took shifts driving and made it all the way to Tucumcari, NM, before pulling off and parking in the Cracker Barrel parking lot to catch a couple hour nap without the hum of the road. (By the way, I-40 in New Mexico is similar to that of Oklahoma.) Before you "BOOMER" me in response to Cracker Barrel, this establishment is a road trip tradition of ours. Plus, it's yummy.

What are some of your road trip traditions?

28/08/2023

Starting today's adventure! Husband has his conference to go to. I'm flying solo today.

26/08/2023

26/08/2023

I'd bet it's even a maybe every Millennial would know what this is. Might have seen it in an old movie. Wilson, KS has TWO of these relics. I even picked it up to see if it still worked. It still has a dial tone!!!! (Again, I can't promise all Millennials will know what I'm talking about.) In high school, we'd use the pay phone on the wall across the hall from the principal's office to call the restaurant to place our order for lunch before we walked over there. It was ready when we arrived.

I inserted the quarter, started dialing..... Had to start over because I forgot the 1 before the area code. 🤦‍♀️ Dialed again.... nothing. No beeps to signal the number had been pushed.😒 The husband was all, "Dial 911. I bet that would work." ‼️"i'm not doing that. You know better than that, too." He chuckled.

It ate my quarter.

26/08/2023

Inspired by Small Town Murder's Real Estate Report segment of their podcast, of you're now convinced to move to Wilson, KS, there's an incentive program available!! Help grow the 859 population to thrive. Our bartender just moved here in January, and he said it was quite the step up from the last town he lived in. Why? Wilson has a grocery store! They're even revitalizing Main Street. Not to mention the big Czechfest held here every year. What more could you ask for?

26/08/2023

During my Czech Egg hunt, we walked by the old school. It has since been converted into apartments! I know some folks from my home town whose grandparents, parents, themselves, and now their kids go to the same school. Think if you could all live there?

26/08/2023

First time for everything! We saw the World's Largest Czech Egg! Thankfully, they have a nice little info area to learn about the importance of the Czech Egg. ( needs to up their game.) Then, we started noticing eggs along town. What did I do? I went on an egg hunt.

26/08/2023

Check out our room.

26/08/2023

Yummy dinner at The Barn in Wilson, KS.

25/08/2023

Per Google (so we know how reliable that is) the Horsefeather is the drink known in Kansas. (Let's just say, the bartender IN Kansas had no idea what we were talking about🤔.)

23/08/2023

Is Travel Insurance worth it?

Just like with any insurance, you're sure glad you have it when you need it.

This comes from a trip I'm planning for Summer 2025 to the Dominican Republic. As I'm speaking to each traveler, some questions come up about the "what-if". Especially since we're talking two years out. ANYTHING can happen.

I found a great article from Forbes published August 11, 2023. (If this isn't up-to-date I don't know what is.)
What Travel Insurance Covers:
✅Trip cancellation - 100% of prepaid, non-refundable deposits if you cancel the trip for a reason listed in the policy
✅Travel delay - Reimburses expenses incurred due to travel delays, if te reason is covered by the policy
✅"Cancel for any reason" - Allows you to cancel your trip and receive partial reimbursement for any reason beyond what is listed in the base policy
✅Travel medical insurance - Pays for medical expenses during the trip
✅Emergency medical evacuation - Pays for you to get to the nearest adequate medical facility
✅Travel interruption - Reimburses for non-refundable parts of your trip if the interruption is caused by a reason listed in the policy
✅"Interruption for any reason" - Reimburses for non-refundable parts of your trip for interruptions caused by any reason
✅Missed connection - Reimburses you for costs incurred due to missing a flight or other transportation connection due to an event listed in the policy
✅Baggage delay - Reimburses you for necessities while baggage is delayed
✅Baggage loss and personal effects - Reimburses for lost baggage and personal belongings lost in the baggage

Why risk it?

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https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/should-you-buy-travel-insurance/

22/08/2023

You may not think about these things until after you're walking in the door returning from vacation, but here's list of things to think about doing before you leave.

1. Clean up the house - who likes to return to a pigsty? Even if it's the quick clean you do for unexpected company, something is better than nothing.
2. Clean out the refrigerator - Who knows what will be growing when you return? Plus, it's a great excuse to order out the night you return. "Honey, we have nothing to eat."
3. Take out the trash - again, why let things grow?
4. Laundry - you will have a whole suitcase full of laundry once you get back, you might as well make it a little easier before you go.
5. Thermostat - there's no reason to keep your house in the comfortable range while you're gone. Save a couple bucks. If you have a programmable one, you can even turn it to the desired temp when you head home that morning.
6. Lights - if you have a timer, definitely plug a couple in (if you can see lights from your windows from the street.) if not just turn them all off. Again, save a couple bucks while you're gone.
7. Mail/Trash - if you have a neighbor/friend/family/coworker that could stop by and gather your mail or the Amazon box on your front porch because you forgot of your subscription that would be great. Also, ask them to take the trash to the curb and back to the house.
8. Lock up - Be sure to check the windows and doors before you leave!

Between saving you a headache when you get home and a few safety measures, it wouldn't hurt to tackle these before you leave.

22/08/2023

Take that adventure you've wanted to take for so long.

March 27 - Load Ship in Singapore
March 28/29 - Cruising
March 30 - Bali, Indonesia
March 31/April 1 - Cruising
April 2 - Darwin, Australia
April 3/4 - Cruising
April 5 - Cairns, Yorkey's K**b
April 6 - Airlie Beach, Queensland
April 7/8 - Cruising
April 9 - Syndey, Australia

Experience all of these wonderful locations while crusing on a luxury cruiseliner. 10 restaurants ranging from buffets to fine dining. 10 bars and lounges scattered throughout the ship. Activities ranging from casinos to camp for the kids to spa to live entertainment to shopping. The list goes on.

A veranda room - living area and balcony included - starts at $2,708 per person. (Based on 2 people in room.)

[email protected]

21/08/2023

When one thinks of going to Vegas, you first think of The Strip, the casinos, the drinks, the people watching, the shows. Did you know there's also other things to do in Vegas?

There's a Mob Museum in Vegas. You can learn all about famous gangsters like Al Capone, John Gotti, and Bugsy Siegel.

Who would think you'd go on a history tour while in Vegas?! (Another great activity when going to the NFR this December.😉)

[email protected]

21/08/2023

Did you know if you go to Las Vegas (like for the NFR....), you are only less than an hour from the Hoover Dam?

This massive structure began in the days of the Great Depression. It took 5 years to build it (1931-1936). President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated it on September 30, 1935. Can you imagine building this thing in the 1930s? Simply think of the lack of equipment and technology they had in that day. Thousands of men helped build this and over 100 lost their lives. (I'm sure OSHA wasn't even thought of in that day.)

If you don't want to drive, you can take a tour bus over there so the whole family can enjoy the scenery.

[email protected]

18/08/2023

What about going on a golf course tour Memorial Day weekend? Load up the golfers, pack your clubs, hop on a plain, and head to North Carolina for the weekend.

There are eight in this one area!

Stay at a resort on the beach. May 24 - 27, 2024. 2 minutes from the beach and 2 minutes from the spa. What more could you want?

[email protected]

18/08/2023

Don't miss out!! NFR Mini Pack tickets are already sold out!! (4 day and 6 day options) They just went on sale on the 11th. Single day tickets go on sale on the 25th 10:00 AM Central.

Let's get you a hotel in the area! Possible walking distance. Not only to the arena, but also all the other things to do in Vegas. The longer you wait, the more likely you won't get a place as convenient.

Put it on your calendar NOW!!

[email protected]

18/08/2023

What if this year you could escape for the holidays?! I know, some of you love hitting up the 5 family Christmases in one day. Some of you enjoy spending Christmas Eve night together with the whole family bunked up on top of each other to wake up Christmas morning in the same house. Other of you like taking Uncle Eddy on another headache of a Christmas Vacation where all he does is "comment" on how things could be better.

What if you and yours could simply escape for a nice, relaxing getaway?

Why not take a luxury 12 day, 11 night cruise through the Eastern Caribbean? Leave a few days before Christmas and return after ringing in the new year!

You'll visit
- Nassau, Bahamas
- St. Johns, Antigua
- Bridgetown, Barbados
- Castries, St. Lucia
- Basseterre, St. Kitts
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

While on board, you'll have several things to go do and experience. Spa, fitness, beverage & culinary programs, casino, live entertainment, shopping, art gallery, and much more. Not to mention the 19 bars and restaurants to try!

Very few rooms left! Prices start at $4,724 per person (based on two people per room).

For more info, contact [email protected]

16/08/2023

Talking to my husband about our upcoming trip to Denver, I suggested us going on a tour of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Things I was excited about:
- we can both get the views
- neither one of us has to drive
- someone who knows what they're talking about guides us
- get a lot seen in one day

Things my husband was NOT excited about:
- 8 hours of sightseeing
- being in a van with strangers

Honestly, he was more not excited about being in a van with strangers than the length of the sightseeing. If it was just the two of us, I think he would've been fine with it. But anything more than the guide, he's pretty much out. "[He'd] be forced to be social."🙄 So, I'm likely going on this tour by myself while he's at the conference.😁

While it's fun to go on vacation with someone else, you're not always going to agree on everything. Thankfully, we're ok with going and doing things on our own. It also helps this is for a work trip, and I'll have approximately 8 hours a day to myself.👍 I mean, I have to keep myself occupied, right? What's the point of just hanging out in the hotel room the whole day.😉

[email protected]

16/08/2023

Almost 20 years ago, HBO launched a series titled Deadwood. It told a story of a small town, Deadwood, in South Dakota and how the gold rush effected the town.

While Idaho Springs, Colorado, doesn't have a TV series named after them, it, too, was put on the map due to the gold rush. "The Clear Creek and Gilpin County mining districts were known as The Richest Square Mile on Earth."😮 Thanks to the railroad running right in front of the Argo, it provided pretty easy access to the smelters and United States Mint just over in Denver. (If you listen to the podcast, Small Town Murder, you know once the railroad is nearby, that generally helps the success of the town due to transportation. Small Town Murder )

Due to the flooding in 1943 and WWII, the Argo Mill ceased operations. After sitting vacant, an entrepreneur bought it in 1976, preserved it, and opened it up for tours. In 2016 a local group bought the mill and continues the legacy.

You can schedule your tour of the Argo Mill and Tunnel today. Go explore the 4.2 mile tunnel started in 1893.

[email protected]

https://argomilltour.com/argo-tunnel/history/

14/08/2023

Some consider nature for the birds. (See that dad-joke?!) They would rather experience the city and all it has to offer when on vacation. If you're a fellow foodie, why not take a food tour?

There's a tour in Denver that features Downtown Denver Food. You start in LoDo (slang for Lower Downtown), next is Coors Field (home of the Rockies - Major League Baseball team for you non-sports folks), pass by McGregor Square, stop at the Dairy Block (named after the Windsor Dairy building), and ends at Denver Union Station (dining and shopping).

You get all the tasting in 3 hours. Short, quick, and loaded with experiences.

[email protected]

14/08/2023

Sure, driving around on your vacation is a great way to see things, but what if you didn't have to drive?! AND someone is there telling you all the things about the area instead of your passenger Googling everything to tell you about it.

That's the beauty of taking a tour. I've got my eye on a tour in Denver with great reviews. They pick you up at Union Station in Denver, drive you to Lily Lake to enjoy the views of Longs Peak, drive through Estes Park (or make a stop depending on what time of year it is), drive by the Stanley Hotel (established 1909), drive up the Trail Ridge Road, drive through and tour Rocky Mountain National Park. Plenty of stops along the way to get out and roam around - along with a few gift stores.

[email protected]

11/08/2023

When on vacation, what do you like to go explore?

Recently, I've become a big fan of exploring nature and what God has created all around us. From the critters to trees to waterfalls. Look what I've found in Estes Park.

"Easy, 1.6 miles out and back
The short, relatively flat trail to Alberta Falls is a favorite in Rocky Mountain National Park. After driving along the scenic Bear Lake Road, hikers begin their journey at the popular Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead. During peak season, you’ll likely need to ride the free shuttle to the area, and remember to book your timed entry to the park to include a pass through Bear Lake Road. Those who plan ahead will be rewarded with views of this thirty-foot waterfall."
https://www.westword.com/arts/best-waterfall-hikes-near-denver-colorado-14570438

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11/08/2023

When I think of Denver, CO, I typically think of the Rocky Mountains and breweries.

Did you know Margaret "Molly" Brown (Titanic survivor, socialite, and philanthropist) lived here? You can still go tour her mansion to this day!

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10/08/2023

I've learned through vacationing with friends, family, spouse, etc. not everyone likes to have a schedule when on vacation. My fellow Type A people like to have every minute of every day scheduled. My Type B people want to be purely spontaneous.

I've learned there is a happy medium - at least with the husband and me.

Let's say we're going on a 5-day vacation. Here's how we "plan".
Day 1: No scheduled activities due to travel.
Day 2: Pick one simple activity to do. Whether in the morning, middle of day, or evening, just one activity.
Day 3: One full day activity. If there's a museum that takes 4 hours to go through, this is when you do this.
Day 4: Full day of relaxation. No plans made. (This is placed here due to the travel home the next day.)
Day 5: No scheduled activities due to travel.

What do you do?

09/08/2023

Punta Cana
All-Inclusive
March 18 - 22, 2024

5 days, 4 nights
4.5-star resort
Round-trip from OKC

Adult's Pool, Amphitheater, , Bicycles Available, Billiards, Bowling Alley, , Day , , whirlpool bath, Kids Club, Lazy River Pool, Miniature Golf on Property, Night , Rock Climbing, , , Swim-up Bar, Pool, Table Games, Theatre on Property, Water Park

Prices starting at $3,576*

*Prices are subject to change based on flight availability. Price also based on 2 per room.

09/08/2023

Vacation planning doesn't have to be that difficult.... For some.

Others, simply the thought of planning a simple vacation overwhelms them. My husband for example only wants to be told how many days to take off from work and when to show up. (Basically, what I did for our wedding/honeymoon. His brother called to ask questions and husband didn't have answers because he didn't know.🤣)

What if you could go on vacation, and all you mainly needed to know was what to pack and when to arrive?

You can.

[email protected]

08/08/2023

If you grew up in a small town, you know choices on where to eat are pretty slim. Especially if you're in a town of 859 people. You're lucky if the local Co-Op has a section of food under the heat lamp.

If you plan a stay at the Midland Railroad Hotel, you're in luck! They have at least two options. The Barn and The Sample Room Tavern. You have options of BBQ to comfort food like chicken fried steak.

While The Barn is newer to the area. (At least the restaurant in the old barn is.) The Sample Room began back in the days of the railroad and the businessmen stopping by on their voyage from KCMO to Denver. They would display their wares for all to see. Because if you've ever been in sales, you know you're always working.😉