Tombstone Arizona: Historic and Haunted Ghost Town

Visitors can take a stagecoach ride through Tombstone.

I will preface this article by stating I am not a believer in ghosts.  Superstitious?  Yes.  Ghosts?  Not so much.  So when I learned many of Tombstone, Arizona’s attractions are haunted and that Tombstone is said to be one of Arizona’s most haunted towns, I shrugged my shoulders and didn’t give it a second thought.  Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, Tombstone’s attractions will appeal.  Kids will love the period costumed characters walking down the street and the stagecoach rides.  History buffs will love how much history has touched Arizona’s tiny ghost town.  Ghost hunters and believers will love even more the possibility of ghostly encounters.  But we didn’t encounter any ghosts.  Or did we? 

Our visit to Tombstone was for an afternoon on a daytrip from Tucson.  We had traveled to Arizona with our dogs, so we were on the lookout for dog friendly attractions.  Luckily, Tombstone is surprisingly dog friendly.  One of Tombstone’s attractions that is not dog friendly, however, is the O.K.Corral.  But that’s okay, because even if you don’t make it into the O.K. Corral, you can see the beginning of the show on the street, which is how our visit to Tombstone began.

Reenactments of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral start in the streets of Tombstone, AZ.

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral may be the most famous gunfight in United States history, even though it only lasted 30 seconds.  Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holiday were marshals of Tombstone.  Billy Claiborne, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, and Frank McLaury were cowboys.  A feud between the two groups resulted in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.  Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, and Frank McLaury were killed.

When the gunfight is reenacted in Tombstone, the confrontation starts in the streets.  Cowboys and lawmen stride down the street arguing before they move into the O.K. Corral for the show.  Reenactments occur three times a day starting at noon.  Some believe the dead cowboys still haunt the streets today.

The music hall of The Bird Cage Theatre.  The top "cages" were used by prostitutes to entertain clients.

Down the street from the O.K. Corral is The Bird Cage Theatre, one of Tombstone’s most authentic attractions and most haunted.  It is believed 26 people were killed in The Bird Cage Theatre during its eight-year run and there are over 120 bullet holes in the building.  The Bird Cage Theatre was cited as “the wildest, wickedest night spot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast” by the New York Times in 1882.

We were surprisingly able to tour The Bird Cage Theatre with our dogs, as the theatre is dog friendly as long as the dogs are small enough to be carried.  Our visit started in the upstairs music hall.  The hall is packed with photographs, news clippings, and artifacts from the time period. 

Ghostly coffin and hearse backstage at The Bird Cage Theatre.

After examining the music hall and stage we went downstairs to where the real action happened.  In the basement was a bar and gambling hall with rooms along the side occupied by ladies of the night and their short-term guests.  The original furnishings and fixtures are still present.  The gambling hall was the site of the longest continuous poker game recorded.  The game started when The Bird Cage Theatre opened on December 25, 1881, and continued for over eight years.  Players would have to give notice before vacating their seats and there were always players waiting to step in to take their place.

The site of the longest continuous poker game ever recorded.

So here’s the weird thing about our tour of The Bird Cage Theatre.  We brought our two dogs, Henry and Charlie.  Rome carried Charlie and I carried Henry.  During our entire time in the theatre Henry wiggled and squirmed and every once in a while whined, especially backstage, which is very unlike him.  When we finally exited through the gift shop, the lady working the shop asked us if we’d had any ghost sightings, and also requested that we email them if we found any pictures with orbs.  Then she asked if the dogs had felt anything or acted strangely.  Her question caught me off guard as I hadn’t even thought about ghosts as a reason for Henry’s unusual behavior.  Were there ghosts?

After The Bird Cage Theatre we visited The Rose Tree Museum, which as far as I know is not haunted.  But it does have the world’s largest rose tree and it is also dog friendly.  The Rose Tree Museum tells the story of the Macia family, members of which still operate the museum. S.C. Robertson and Alice Macia moved to Tombstone in 1880 to start their married life and make their fortune in the silver mines. 

Who knew a rose plant could grow to be so huge?

The Rose Tree Museum displays the original furniture the Macias brought to their new home from Colorado to Arizona along with an assortment of small items collected through time. There’s even an invitation to an execution.  In the back is the plant listed as the largest rose tree in The Guinness Book of Records.  The rose tree was planted in 1885, prior to the Macias purchasing the property.  Mr. Macia had the trellis built and now the blooms spread over 8,000 square feet.

On our way out of Tombstone we stopped at Boothill Graveyard, the final resting place of some of Tombstone’s earliest pioneers.  Many of the residents of Boothill Graveyard succumbed to violent deaths.  The most famous are Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury, and Frank McLaury, the victims of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury, killed in the O.K. Corral shootout, are laid to rest in the Boothill Graveyard.

Many of the wooden grave markers have comic epitaphs describing how the person met their usually untimely demise.  You’ll also be given a pamphlet providing more detail.  George Johnson’s marker reads, “Here lies George Johnson hanged by mistake 1882.  He was right we was wrong but we strung him up and now he’s gone.”  George Johnson unknowingly bought a stolen horse and was hanged for a crime he didn’t commit.   Lester Moore’s grave marker reads, “Here lies Lester Moore.  Four slugs from a 44.  No Les no more.”  Moore was a Wells Fargo agent.  He had a dispute with a man over a package.  Both men died as a result of the altercation.

Dutch Annie was a well-loved Tombstone Madam.  Are those orbs prior customers paying her a visit?  Henry's not sure.

I love all cemeteries and Boothill Graveyard is especially enjoyable with its quirky histories.  Boothill Graveyeard is also dog friendly if you can carry your dog (no peeing on the graves please).  Since I was already weirded out by Henry’s reaction to The Bird Cage Theatre, imagine my feelings when I began noticing orbs in half of our graveyard pictures.  Ghosts?  Or was it just because we visited before sundown and the sun was shining at an angle?

Chink Smiley was shot and the two Chinese died of leprosy.
And I'm really just trying to prove I can take a picture without sun spots trying to act like paranormal orbs.

Some other things to do in Tombstone include visiting the Crystal Palace Saloon, Tombstone Courthouse, Tombstone Epitaph Museum, and Tombstone Historama, and taking a stagecoach ride (also dog friendly).

What's happening?!  That's the sun, not a ghost orb following us out, right?

Whether or not you believe in ghosts you will enjoy Tombstone’s attractions and history.  But if you do believe in ghosts, you’ll have a field day seeking out paranormal experiences.  

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Astoria: Gateway to the Oregon Coast

Just a few miles outside of Astoria is the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale.

Astoria is often considered the northernmost town of the Oregon coast, though technically Astoria is located on the Columbia River close to where it enters the ocean rather than on the coast itself.  Astoria is an interesting mix of rough around the edges port town and historic collection of Victorian homes.  There is a lot to do and see in Astoria and travelers will want to start their Oregon coast vacation in Astoria. 

Things to Do In Astoria Oregon

Columbia River Maritime Museum

The Columbia River Maritime Museum is a very well designed and curated museum.  The Columbia River Maritime Museum tells the story of the Columbia River using exhibits of ships, lighthouses, weapons, scrimshaw, and other seafaring paraphernalia.  There is even an original document signed by Abraham Lincoln.  One thought provoking exhibit was that of the USS Astoria which was sent on a mission to Japan in 1939 to return the remains of the Japanese Ambassador to the United States to his homeland for his funeral.  In a letter home, sailor George Laury wrote of his experience, “Yesterday we were given a sight seeing trip to Tokyo and vicinity and visited all the national shrines, the Imperial Palace and parks and gardens and other spots of beauty and interest. . . . They are the most pleasant and sociable people I have ever met.  They can’t seem to do enough for us.  Our uniform is enough to get us entrance to anything or go anywhere without cost.  They bow to us and salute us everywhere we go.  I’m really enjoying this visit and so is everyone else.  I would sure hate to have to fight these people.”  Two years later the United States was at war with Japan.  The Columbia River Maritime Museum is a very hands-on museum and even has the bridge of the USS Knapp displayed, which visitors can walk through.

Flavel House Museum

Serenity in the Flavel House Museum garden.

The Flavel House Museum is on the Register of Historic Places and is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne architecture.  The Flavel House Museum was the home of Captain George Flavel, a very influential Astoria citizen, and his family.  The home was completed in 1886 and remained in the family until 1934.  The home is beautifully furnished in period style with little reminders of Astoria’s ties to the sea, such as a hand-painted stained glass window of a ship at sea.

The Flavel House library.

Oregon Film Museum

Across the street from the Flavel House Museum is the Oregon Film Museum, located in the old Clatsop County Jail.  The Oregon Film Museum features exhibits from many movies that have been filmed in Oregon, but the most prominent movie featured is The Goonies, as some of the movie was filmed in the jail.  The museum is a lot of fun for fans of The Goonies and for kids.  Visitors can even create their own short films using the museum’s sets and props, though ours sadly never arrived in our email inbox.

Astoria Column

The view of Astoria from Astoria Column.

The Astoria Column, modeled after the Trajan Column in Rome, is a 125-foot column illustrating the three events that allowed the United States to acquire the state of Oregon as well as Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.  The Astoria Column is located on a hill above the city of Astoria and provides great views of Astoria and the Astoria-Megler Bridge crossing the Columbia River.  Kids will have fun visiting the Astoria Column as they can purchase light wood airplanes they can launch from the top of the column.

Fort Stevens State Park

Fort Stevens.

Fort Stevens State Park is just eight miles outside of Astoria.  Fort Stevens, named for General Isaac Ingalls Stevens, was built in 1864 and decommissioned in 1947.  The fort was built for the Civil War because it was thought the English might help the Confederates and come through from Canada.  Fort Stevens was also the site of an attack on U.S. soil during World War II.  On June 21, 1942, a Japanese submarine made its way through the minefields and fired at the fort at night.  Because the fort did not return fire, the fort’s position was not revealed and the attack was unsuccessful.  Visitors to Fort Stevens State Park can visit the small Fort Stevens State Park Military Museum and walk through many of the fort’s buildings.

Some of the old graves in Fort Stevens Post Cemetery.

Fort Stevens Post Cemetery dates back to 1868 with some of the oldest-surviving grave stones in the county.  However, the cemetery’s current location was built in 1905.  Some of Fort Stevens Post Cemetery’s residents have unique causes of death.  The first burial was of Private August Stahlberger, who died of “falling in the river and drowning while under the influence.”  Also within the Fort Stevens State Park boundaries is the Peter Iredale shipwreck, a ship that wrecked on the dangerous sandbars in the mouth of the Columbia River.  The rusted skeleton of a ship stranded on the sand provides for a very picturesque setting.

Astoria Restaurants

The best fish and chips come from a grounded boat.

When we checked into our hotel we asked at the front desk which was the best place for lunch in Astoria.  With no hesitation we were told to get fish and chips at the Bowpicker.  Bowpicker Fish & Chips isn’t a sit-down restaurant.  It’s not even a hole-in-the-wall takeaway shop.  Bowpicker Fish & Chips is located in a converted fishing boat docked on a lawn across the street from the Columbia River Maritime Museum.  The fish is hand-battered to order and fried in the tiny cabin of the refurbished gillnet boat.   Rather than using cod, Ron and Linda lightly batter Albacore tuna, which is served with thick steak fries.  My apologies to the purists, but I loved the Albacore fish and chips much better than the traditional cod.  Bowpicker Fish & Chips is popular with locals and tourists alike and always has a long line, even when it’s raining.  We struck up a conversation with a gentleman from Washington who drives over 200 miles to eat the fish and chips . . . and visit his daughter.

Traditional Bosnian coffee completed our meal at Drina Daisy.

We were excited to learn Astoria has a Bosnian Restaurant, Drina Daisy.  Drina Daisy serves “comfort food with an old-world twist.”  The menu includes a variety of Bosnian food including braised meats served with sour cream, entrees wrapped in phyllo pastry, and cured meats.  Our meal was completed with traditional Bosnian coffee.  It was fun to even see Cockta on the menu, Yugoslavia’s version of Coca-Cola during the communist era, which we had tasted when visiting Lake Bled in Slovenia.

Even cats hope to get a nibble at Rollin' Thunder BBQ.

Locals are also fans of Rollin’ Thunder BBQ for eating in or taking away barbecue.  Rollin’ Thunder BBQ is a one-man shop and sells barbecue meat each night until it sells out.

Astoria Beer

Jars of Astoria beer at Fort George Brewery + Public House.

Beer lovers will want to take a seat at the bar of Fort George Brewery + Public House.  Fort George Brewery’s beers are served in Ball canning jars.  My favorite beer was the Working Girl Porter, brewed with Working Girl coffee beans.  Fort George Brewery also serves food.  Another great place for one of my favorite Oregon beers is Rogue Public House, located on Pier 39, which can be reached by actually driving over the water on the wooden pier.

Booking.com

Astoria is a funky Oregon town with quite a mix of attractions.  In addition to the above-listed things to do in Astoria, it’s fun to just walk around the small town looking at the old buildings and enjoying the fun touches like trash cans made to look like canned fish with retro labels, always a reminder that Astoria is first and foremost a port town.

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We’re Covered?! Travel Insurance You Might Not Know You Have

When you travel, do you always buy travel insurance?  I’ll be honest, we travel frequently and yet we rarely purchase travel insurance.  Now I am not in any way suggesting you should forego buying trip insurance.  Travel insurance can be a good idea.  (When we do buy travel insurance, we purchase ours through World Nomads.)  However, if you are like us and occasionally travel without insurance, you should know if something happens you may still have protection, which is why I’m sharing with you the time we had to cancel our international travel plans for medical reasons and learned we were unknowingly covered by trip cancellation and trip interruption protection through our Chase credit card.

Blissfully unaware of the pending medical emergency.

If you follow Travel the World on Facebook you might have seen my post about Romeo’s emergency appendectomy.  We were spending a lovely day in Coronado at the beach with the dogs when Romeo started to feel pain in his stomach.  At home he started shivering even though it was 90 degrees outside.  When he developed a fever that evening we rushed to the hospital.

Obviously our greatest concern was to figure out what was wrong. When the diagnosis of appendicitis was confirmed I was relieved as it is a routine laparoscopic surgery with a fairly speedy recovery. Unfortunately Romeo’s appendix had leaked, which meant a longer hospital stay, five full days to be exact. 

After a successful surgery Romeo’s surgeon visited the hospital room for a checkup.  I timidly asked how Romeo’s surgery would affect our upcoming travel plans, worried by the answer I was going to hear.  Sure enough, our scheduled 10-year wedding anniversary weekend getaway to Tri-Valley in Northern California a week and a half later would have to be cancelled.  Not too big a deal.  Our flights were easily transferrable with Southwest Airlines and no other money had been spent.  But then came the really bad news.  After an appendectomy there is a risk of blood clots, so Romeo would not be able to travel by car or plane for anything longer than a half hour for two months.  Our trip to Greece six weeks later would also need to be cancelled.

While we would both like to visit Greece someday, the main reason for our trip was so I could attend TBEX, a travel blogger conference.  We usually plan our travels around cheap airfare, but airfare had not been cheap to get to Greece, so I had used a combination of miles and purchased airfare, not something I would have done otherwise.  If I wasn’t going to be able to make it to TBEX, I wanted to cancel our trip rather than try to reschedule while taking care of my husband in the hospital.  Plus any money we could recover could be used for the looming medical bills we would be receiving.  (Non-travel related tip, when you receive a big medical bill, pick up the phone before paying.  I called to set up a payment plan and the hospital ended up volunteering to cut our bill 30% if we paid in full.)  But without travel insurance, would we be able to recover anything?

Later that night in the ER.

The airfare purchased with miles was easy.  I called American Airlines and learned that our miles and taxes paid would be refunded, all taken care of with one phone call.  But then there was our airfare with Aegean Airlines.  In order to save money I had purchased the cheaper non-refundable airfare.  I’d also paid for our luggage in advance.

I started researching online to see if it was possible to have non-refundable airfare refunded if there was a health reason or medical emergency.  What I found wasn’t encouraging.  (It turns out while Aegean Airlines' policy for non-refundable flights is you must reschedule and pay a fee prior to the scheduled trip, in case of a medical issue they will allow you more time to reschedule.)  But while I was reading one article online I noticed a comment made by a reader.  He mentioned that some credit cards have built in trip cancellation insurance.  What?!

I did a little more research on credit card travel insurance and found a Frugal Travel Guy blog article stating my Chase United MileagePlus Explorer card included trip cancellation insurance.  All of a sudden there was light at the end of the tunnel.  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.  Maybe I wouldn’t have to throw a thousand dollars into the trash.

I called the number on my Chase credit card and learned my card did indeed include trip cancellation insurance which would reimburse us up to $10,000 for any non-refundable travel expenses if we cancelled for covered reasons.  Included in those covered reasons was if I, my travel companion, or immediate family member had a health or medical issue necessitating cancellation of the trip. 

They requested the claim be made within 20 days of the date of loss and required documentation, which included the claim form, travel itinerary, confirmation of the reason for cancellation (such as a doctor’s note), copy of the credit card statement including charges for the travel arrangements, and copy of the airline’s cancellation or refund policy.  The claim was actually made with Crawford & Company, the claims management company for my Chase United MileagePlus Explorer credit card.  After giving them information over the phone, they emailed the claim form to me.  I completed the claim form, gathered the required documentation, and uploaded everything to their website.  Two business days later I received an email stating my claim had been sent for final approval and four days after that I received a check in the mail.

Somehow I had no idea that credit cards offered trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.  This feature is now added to the many other reasons I choose the Chase United MIleagePlus Explorer as my travel credit card of choice.  If you’re thinking of getting a new travel credit card, here are some of the reasons why you might want to consider a Chase United MileagePlus Explorer credit card.

No Foreign Transaction Fees (my number one reason)

Free Checked Bag for You and One Companion on United

Priority Boarding on United

Two United Club Passes per Year

One MileagePlus Mile for Each $1 Spent

Double Miles on United Tickets

Miles Don’t Expire

Protection for Baggage Delay and Lost Luggage

Trip Delay, Trip Cancellation, and Travel Accident Insurance

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

This article contains affiliate links.  If you purchase through them, it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards running this website and bringing you more travel stories.

Have you ever had to cancel a trip?  What was your experience?

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Odense: The Birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen, the son of Odense.

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, but to put that into a little bit of perspective, Odense has a population of just over 172,000, between that of Jackson, Mississippi and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  There is one main reason to visit Odense, and that is Hans Christian Andersen.  Hans Christian Andersen is one of the most famous celebrities to ever come out of Denmark and Odense’s claim to fame is that Odense is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. 

Hopefully everybody knows who Hans Christian Andersen is.  I grew up with his fairy tales.  But in case you need a reminder, he wrote The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and countless more. 

While Hans Christian Andersen only lived in Odense until the age of 14, at which time he moved to Copenhagen to seek his fortune, Odense is very proud of the fact that it is the birthplace of the famous author, and signs of Hans Christian Andersen can be seen around every corner of the city.

This little yellow house is where the famous Hans Christian Andersen was born.

The best place to get to know Hans Christian Andersen is the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, or as the Danes call it, H.C. Andersens Hus.  The Danes are on a first name basis with Denmark’s famous son and call him H.C. (pronounced hoo-see).  Hans Christian Andersen’s first home, where he was born and lived for two years, is incorporated into this museum.  But his birth home is just a small part of this very large museum dedicated to one important man.

The modern entrance to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum.

While Hans Christian Andersen’s small birth home can be seen from the old town street, the entrance to the museum is actually in the back and is very modern.  Walking through the museum is literally like walking through Hans Christian Andersen’s life.  Many of Hans Christian Andersen’s personal possessions are displayed, like his hat and his dentures, along with explanations of what was happening in his life at the time, all in chronological order.  Seeing everything in perspective really helps illustrate the struggles he went through and how amazing it is that he eventually became so successful and so well-loved. 

Hans Christian Andersen's passport.

Visitors to the museum will also learn there was much more to Hans Christian Andersen than just his fairy tales.  He was also a poet and an artist and a traveler.  He was talented in the arts of paper cutting and drawing. 

Hans Christian Andersen was an avid traveler and believed travel was an important part of life.  He knew Europe better than many of his contemporaries.  One of his famous quotes is, “To travel is to live.”  He embarked on his first journey in 1831 and took his 30th and last in 1873, two years before he died.  He not only traveled through Europe, but also to Asia Minor and Africa.

Reconstruction of Hans Christian Andersen's study from his Nyhavn apartment.

Hans Christian Andersen’s Childhood Home, where he lived from ages two to 14, is also open to visitors.  But beyond these two homes there are signs of Hans Christian Andersen everywhere throughout Odense.  Behind Sankt Knuds Kirke, Odense’s cathedral, is HC Andersen Haven, a park dedicated to the writer with a prominent statue of him.  On a sunny day you will see countless Danes lounging in the grass of this park.  Walking around Odense you will find Hans Christian Andersen’s profile worked into the sidewalk and they’ve even used him for the pedestrian street lights.

Danes soaking in the sun in Odense's HC Andersen Haven.

There are a number of sculptures and street furniture inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's stories throughout town.  A great place to view some of Odense’s outdoor artwork is in the square in front of the Town Hall, which is also the perfect place to enjoy a licorice ice cream cone from the ice cream shop.

We stayed in Odense for two nights of our Denmark road trip so we could not only explore Odense, but also other parts of the island of Funen, including Egeskov Slot, the Hindsholm Peninsula, and Vikingemuseet Ladby.  We stayed at Hotel Plaza, a centrally located hotel in Odense within easy walking distance of all the sites we visited.  Hotel Plaza, built in 1919, is a good choice with spacious rooms and an included breakfast.  My favorite part of Hotel Plaza was the cozy downstairs lounge where we were able to enjoy some of Odense’s local beers.

Hotel Plaza's lounge, the perfect place for an Odense beer.

Our best meal while in Odense was dinner at Restaurant Under Lindetraeet.  Restaurant Under Lindetraeet is located in a charming house within Odense’s old town just across the street from the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. 

Restaurant Under Lindetraeet across the street from Hans Christian Andersen's birthplace.

If you are a fan of Hans Christian Andersen, you will not want to miss Odense.  The Hans Christian Andersen Museum along with Odense’s close proximity to other Funen not to miss sites makes a visit to Odense imperative.

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Driving Oregon’s Historic Columbia River Highway

View of the Columbia River Gorge from the Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint.

One of the most beautiful days you can spend in Oregon is driving through the Columbia River Gorge.  The Columbia Gorge, just a few miles east of Portland, is a long canyon cut through by the Columbia River.  The Columbia Gorge has historical significance.  Lewis and Clark paddled down the Columbia River.  The Columbia River Highway, one of America's great scenic drives, was built in the early 1900s and was one of the first paved roads in the Pacific Northwest.  Today there is also a major highway that travels through the Columbia River Gorge, but sightseers will want to avoid the interstate and instead follow the slower Historic Columbia River Highway, making stops along the way to enjoy the views, waterfalls, and trails. 

Multnomah Falls.

If starting a tour of the Columbia River Gorge from Portland, the first views of the Columbia Gorge will be seen from the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint.  There is also a view of the Vista House, which can be visited farther down the road and displays a collection of historical photos.

The Columbia River Gorge has a high concentration of waterfalls, so you’ll need to pick and choose which ones you visit.  Some are right on the side of the road while others require a short hike.  Some of the waterfalls to visit are Latourell Falls, Shepherd’s Dell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkeena Falls, and many more.  

The most popular waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge is Multnomah Falls, and for good reason.  Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon, and fourth tallest in the United States.  Multnomah Falls is very picturesque, dropping from the top of the canyon, hitting a pool of water, and dropping off another ledge.  A trail leads up to the arched bridge spanning the upper pool.  If you climb up to the bridge, expect to get wet.

There are some non-nature attractions along the Historic Columbia River Highway as well.  The Bonneville Fish Hatchery is where different species of fish are raised before being released into the river.  The fish can be seen in different holding pools as well as ponds, and very large sturgeon can be seen through viewing windows within the ponds.  

Just across the way are the Bonneville Lock and Dam with a museum about the history of the dam.  Our last stop along the Columbia River Gorge was the Bridge of the Gods, which connects Oregon and Washington.  According to Native American legend there used to be a natural bridge at this spot.

Bridge of the Gods.

It’s easy to lose track of time with so many stops along the Historic Columbia River Highway, so try to set aside an entire day for the trip.  

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#DoBaja: Win a Trip to Baja and Follow My Ecotourism Adventure

Photo courtesy Baja California Tourism

As I have mentioned before, after a multi-year hiatus, Romeo and I have started venturing back into Baja.  Our first Baja adventure was joining a Baja food tour.  We then traveled to Tijuana for a dinner at Misión 19, had a weekend getaway in Rosarito, staying at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, and then crossed the border again to spend an afternoon drinking wine at AlXimia in the Valle de Guadalupe.

I’ll be heading back down to Baja again, but instead of a food adventure, this time will be an ecotourism adventure in Baja’s biggest national park, Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, and an aquatic adventure in San Quintin.  I’m so excited to be exploring and learning more about the nature side of Baja, as my personal opinion is far too many people travel to Baja strictly to drink and party.  My goal for our continued trips into Baja is to be able to share with you the culture, food, and nature of Baja, rather than just the best place to get a Corona.

Photo courtesy Baja California Tourism

Do you have a hankering to discover Baja?  If you do, and you have a Twitter account, you are in luck.  Baja California Tourism is giving away a custom three-night getaway for one lucky Twitter user sharing how they #DoBaja. 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow @Discoverbaja on Twitter.
2. Send a tweet and tell them how you Do Baja, including the hashtag #DoBaja, e.g.: “@Discoverbaja when I #DoBaja, I snorkel in the Sea of Cortez.”
3. Extra entries will be given for tweeting a personal photo of Baja and tagging both @Discoverbaja and #DoBaja.

The Baja California Tourism Giveaway runs through November 1, 2014, and is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States who are 18 years or older at the time of entry.  For more information, see the Rules/Terms and Conditions.  (Update: This contest has ended and the Rules/Terms and Conditions are no longer available.)

Winners will receive a custom Baja getaway for two including a three-night stay at a hotel in one or two of the following municipalities: Ensenada, Rosarito, Tijuana, San Felipe, Mexicali, and Tecate.  The prize includes one complimentary or discounted local experience such as a wine tour, hot air balloon ride, horseback riding experience, snorkeling adventure, or ATV ride.  The package will be valid through December 31, 2015.

Stay tuned for my next Baja adventure and good luck in winning your own!

This post is in partnership with Baja California Tourism.  As always, all opinions are my own.

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