Making the Most of a Road Trip

On August 19, 2015August 21, 2015 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn New MexicoLeave a comment

Several years ago, we had taken a road trip to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and when taking long trips by car, we will often stop at places of interest along the way. On this particular trip our journey took us past Fort Sumner New Mexico, which is the location of the tombstone for the infamous Billy the Kid, as well as Roswell New Mexico, the site of a supposed UFO crash that the government is covering up. We knew that we wanted to stop at Roswell, but stopping at Billy the Kid’s tombstone was a spur of the moment decision when we saw signs on the road for the attraction. While visiting the caverns was definitely the purpose of the trip, those added stops made the entire trip that much more interesting.

There isn’t much else to see in Fort Sumner other than Billy the Kid’s tombstone, but for a quick detour while traveling through New Mexico, it was fun to see. With all of the technology that surrounds us in our modern world, it is somehow relaxing to reflect on just how recent it was that our world was not so complex. According to legend, Billy the Kid shot and killed twenty-one men, although current belief is that it was only eight men, before being gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881. From Fort Sumner, we continued on to Roswell and we went from life in the old west to space invaders in the span of less than an hour.

Do aliens really exist? We’re not sure if they do, but we are positive that there are more than enough unique individuals on earth that we don’t need to import them from space. As it turned out, it was the annual UFO Festival when we arrived in Roswell, so the town was crowded with enthusiasts. After spending a few hours surrounded by people in costume, wearing tin foil hats, ufologists, and vendors trying to sell us UFO memorabilia, we were ready to jump into a spaceship and head to the rugged terrain of Carlsbad.

We were just there for a weekend trip, so our time in Carlsbad was fairly short, but we definitely enjoyed the caverns and the town. One of the more unique things, other than touring the caverns and learning about stalagmites and stalactites, was learning about the bats. Hundreds of bats make the Carlsbad Cavern their home and at sunset they all fly out over the heads of the tourists seated in the amphitheater to watch the spectacle. It is quite impressive to see as there are so many of them that they literally look like a swirling black cloud as they zoom off to feed. The kids enjoyed making bat guano jokes throughout the return trip home, but at least they listened to the ranger talk during the tour.

So, whether making a drive across country or just getting away for the weekend like we did, it is certainly worth making little detours along the way. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is a journey, not a destination” and so should your travels. Make the most of the journey and you’ll enjoy the destination that much more.

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Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Roasted Vegetables

On August 19, 2015 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn RecipesLeave a comment

Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Oven Roasted Vegetables

One of our favorite steak restaurants, Cowboy Star, has a butcher shop on site where they sell the same aged meats that they serve in the dining room. We had been to the farmer’s market in the morning and had gathered up a nice variety of vegetables, so we decided to pick up a nice, thick rib eye steak and bring it home to grill. We grilled the steak to a perfect medium rare, added some brandied mushrooms, roasted the fresh vegetables and paired it with a wonderful Pinot Noir wine. See the recipes and cooking instructions below.

Grilled Rib Eye Steak

Ingredients

Prime Rib Eye Steak – 1 1/2 inches thick
1 tbsp Chopped Fresh Rosemary
1 tsp Fresh Thyme
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Garlic Clove, minced
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine the olive oil, rosemary, thyme, and garlic in a small bowl and then rub both sides of the steak with the seasoned oil. Salt and pepper both sides of the steak and let it rest at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes while it marinates. Place the steak over direct heat on a grill that has been heated to medium-high heat. Cook for seven to eight minutes per side for medium rare.

Sautéed Brandy Mushrooms

Ingredients

8 to 10 Button Mushrooms, sliced
4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1/4 cup Brandy

Instructions

In a sauté pan or small frying pan, heat the pan to a medium-high heat with the butter and brandy until the liquid begins to sizzle. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and nicely caramelized.

Oven Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients

2 Medium Zucchinis
4 Medium Carrots
1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Zest
Juice from 1/2 Lemon
1 1/2 tsp Fresh Thyme
1 1/2 tsp Fresh Rosemary, finely chopped
1 1/2 tsp Fresh Pineapple Sage, chopped (optional)
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Cut the vegetables into 4 inch strips of equal thickness and place into a large plastic bag. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, rosemary, thyme, pineapple sage, and salt and pepper to the bag. Seal the bag and shake vigorously until the vegetables are thoroughly coated. Heat an oven to 450 degrees and bake the vegetables for 20 to 30 minutes or until caramelized.

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There’s Gold in Them There Hills

On August 17, 2015August 17, 2015 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn ColoradoLeave a comment

Even though we’re still in the heat of August right now, there is a sense in the air that fall is right around the corner. Living in Colorado, it isn’t a surprise that we’re avid hikers and there isn’t a more picturesque time of year to be in the mountains than during the fall when the leaves are changing and temperatures are falling. Although the weekends can be crowded as people from the cities head into the mountains for a day to view the Aspens as they turn to gold, it is actually off season in the resort towns and a perfect time to spend a few days surrounded by some the most beautiful scenery in the country. Each town or resort provides its own unique opportunity to view the natural beauty of forests as the leaves change as well as places to stay and restaurants to eat.

One of our first memories of getting into the mountains during the fall was when we went to Estes Park and stayed at the Stanley Hotel. Estes Park is a beautiful little town that is right outside of Rocky National Park, which is the Yellowstone of Colorado. At the time, the Stanley Hotel was a five star hotel that was proud of its heritage of having hosted many presidents, including Teddy Roosevelt, and of its original owner who was the inventor of the Stanley Steamer. Nowadays, after appearing on an episode of Ghost Hunters, they are all about the Shining and the ghosts that may inhabit the property. Oddly enough, we actually stayed in the same room that Stephen King stayed in when he wrote the Shining, which made our stay even more special.

We’ve also stayed in Breckenridge and Vail during the fall and they are both wonderful places to stay, but our favorite place to go is to Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek has a feel of exclusivity without being pricey. The center of the resort has an ice skating rink with shops and restaurants all around. There a plenty of places to sit outside and watch the sun set over the mountains, all with fire pits or heaters to keep you warm as it can get fairly cold at night. Hiking up the mountain can be quite strenuous, but the views that you are rewarded with are well worth the effort.

In addition to hiking, there a lots of small little towns with plenty of history. Towns such as Minturn, Georgetown, or Leadville make for perfect excursions from wherever you’re staying. We have fond memories of going to Minturn and having lunch in a saloon that boasts that Jesse James used to frequent the place. In addition to the historic towns, there are also a few ghost towns in Colorado, such as the ones near Cripple Creek and Leadville.

Regardless of where you stay, getting into the mountains of Colorado during the fall will leave you with images that will last a lifetime. Whether going to Aspen and hiking the Maroon Bells, going to Winter Park where the college students love to frequent, or going to a resort such as Beaver Creek, you will enjoy getting away from the crowds while the locals prepare for the oncoming ski season. As with any time travelling into the mountains, there can be a chance of snow, but generally speaking the chance of perfect weather far outweighs the chance for inclement weather. Even if it does snow, it will just add to the beauty of the mountains. So, despite the lack of proper grammar, the old mining saying is still true that “there is gold in them there hills”.

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