The Woodguy's Favorite Places Page

Welcome to the Woodguy's Favorite Places page. This page is dedicated to some of my favorite places in the world. It's only about places that I've actually been to, which is only right.

I'm taking a big chance publishing this information here. Some of these places are not well known, such as the Pawnee Buttes National Grassland, and I like it that way. While others have been almost touristed to death, as Santa Fe, NM has.

If you do decide to visit any of these places, please be kind to them. If it's a city, accept it as it is, enjoy the sites, meet the people, be friendly, spend a few pesos and help out the local economy, take some pictures. If it's a park or monument area, take some pictures, don't go where you're not supposed to go, walk gently, don't litter (if you see that others have, pick up after them, it won't kill you), and leave no trace as you travel through.

Durango, Colorado

Durango. Even the name is great. The best little mountain town in Colorado. You can keep Vail and Aspen, I spend my money in Durango. Whether I'm just strolling the old main street and looking at the sights or taking a ride on the Durango/Silverton Narrow Gage Railroad, I always have a great time in Durango.

Mesa Verde National Monument, Colorado

Mesa Verde is my favorite place of all places. It's a National Monument between Durango and Cortez, CO that has some of the best Anasazi cliff dwellings in the states. It's been getting a lot of traffic and had a fire run through it a couple of years back, but it's still worth the price of admission. Bring your walking shoes and lots of film for your camera.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountain is the closest to where I live. The scenic views from Trail Ridge Road are incredible, but bring warm clothing, I've been snowed on at the top in July there. It has lots of wildlife that you can view from the road, Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, and much more. Good hiking trails abound.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Glenwood is a great little town. You can take a train to Glenwood from Denver or drive through the beautiful Glenwood Canyon to get there. The hot springs are the best and if you get there you have to try the Vapor Caves, natural underground hot caves that are better than any sauna. The Indians called it Yampa, meaning big medicine, and used the waters for their healing properties. Tubercular patients were sent to Glenwood in hopes of a cure, one rather infamous patient, Doc Holliday, is buried in Glenwood Springs.

Pawnee Buttes National Grasslands, Colorado

Not everyone likes the Prairies, but I love them. Some people feel like "a bug on a plate" when they are on the prairie, I don't. The grasslands are like nothing else, and Pawnee Buttes are magnificent. The view from the top of the east butte is magnificent and the climb is fairly easy, the climb up the west butte is technical and not recommended.

The Black Hills of South Dakota

The Black Hills are not just about Mt. Rushmore. There is also the ongoing Crazy Horse Memorial project started by Korczak Ziolkowski and continued by his family. Custer State Park is a great place to view buffalo in the wild as well as many other critters. The town of Spearfish puts on A Passion Play every summer. If you're into Harley Davidsons and the people who race and ride them, there is Sturgis every August.

Lusk, Wyoming

Lusk is just a little town on the Wyoming Prairie, but I love it. Nothing much exceptional about this place, but if you get in the area, take a drive through some of the neighborhoods. The town even boasts a llama ranch. You can get a good breakfast with cinnamon rolls at the truck stop/cafe on the south end of town. If I could chose anywhere to live, this might be one of the places I'd settle down in.

Fort Laramie, Wyoming

Fort Laramie is a great historical site located on the Oregon Trail. Originally an old fur trappers fort that was sold to the army. Some of the old military post has been restored and the foundations of other buildings are still evident. A decent little museum, a nice picnic area, and a pleasant setting. The gift shop has a good selection of books and souveniers.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

If you don't already know something about Yellowstone National Park (Old Faithful?), crawl out from under that rock and go there. I visited Yellowstone the year after the "Great Fire". It's a beautiful place! All kinds of wildlife are there to be viewed, I saw moose, elk, buffalo, mule deer, and even a bear. At one point I stopped by the side of a road and dabbled my tired puppies in an ice cold stream while having lunch. You gotta see this place!

Tensleep, Wyoming

Tensleep is nestled in the Big Horn mountains. There's lots of good camping and fishing in the area, but don't ask me exactly where, that's my secret. You find your own spot up there.

Greasy Grass (Little Big Horn), Montana

Almost everyone everywhere knows of what is commonly known as Custer's Last Stand, but that is only a small part of what happened on that battleground at the Little Big Horn. Take one of the guided tours, visit the museum, and spend some time here. It's an experience that I can't relate, but will never forget. Before you go, read about what happened there, you'll appreciate your visit a lot more.

Taos, New Mexico

Stay out of Taos, it's my place! Pretty good golf course, nice shops, good food, and the Taos Pueblo is a must see. For a great Southwestern breakfast you have to stop in at Michael's restaurant. The old town square is about as charming as it can get with lots of nice little shops. There is a Kit Carson museum just off the main intersection that's worth a visit. The chile pepper is the official mascot of Taos.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Okay, Santa Fe has been way overdone. You can hardly get around town anymore for all the tourists. The food is great, but you'll spend way too much money for anything you buy in the shops. However, it's still worth the visit. Old town square is worth the hassle of trying to find a place to park and the old cathedral is beautiful. If you decide to buy jewelry, buy it from the Native Americans selling it on the square in front of the old city hall. The Santa Fe Opera is very good, but get your tickets in advance.

Gallup, New Mexico

Gallup is not your average touristy kind of place. It's stuck in the middle of the Navajo Reservation, but it's close to Chaco Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, Windowrock, the Zuni Reservation, the Hopi Reservation, and the Acoma Reservation. You can get some good deals on Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni jewelry as well as Acoma pottery, if you know what you're buying and what it's worth. You can also spend too much on junk. The Saturday morning Navajo Flea Market is a must as is the Navajo rug auction in Crownpoint which is held the last Friday evening of every month.

Shiprock, New Mexico

Shiprock is just a town on the Navajo reservation. It's near Four Corners (where CO, AZ, NM, and UT come together). The predominate feature is Shiprock, which is west of town. You can see Shiprock from all over the 4-corners region. Don't drive south towards Gallup on 666 at night. Take my word for it. If you just have to-have to know why, send me an e-mail and I'll tell you.

Moab, Utah>

Moab is a great little town. It's near Arches National Monument, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Monument Valley. I've camped in Moab a couple of times and looking at the sky at night while sitting around a camp fire is magnificent. Have a beer for me while you're there.

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Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona

Some of the best golf in the country, but you'll pay for it if you want to try the famous courses. A great place to go in the winter, but a shade too hot for my tastes in the summer. It's beautiful. If you get down that way, go into the Superstition Mountains outside of Apache Junction. Visit Tortilla Flat, you'll have a really fun time.

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The Navajo Reservation

The Navajo Reservation is the largest Indian reservation in the country. Be very aware that everywhere around you is sacred to the Navajo. See the sights, take some pictures (do not take pictures of the Navajo people without first asking permission, how would you like it if strangers drove up to your front yard, got out of their car, and took pictures of you and your family having a picnic?), enjoy yourself, bring plenty of water, you don't want to be caught in the desert without it.

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Cape Cod, Massachusetts

I love the Cape, but I love it best after Labor Day and before Memorial Day when there are a lot fewer tourists. My father lives in Hyannisport and my grand-mother lived in Hyannis. I know the Cape well. Take a day to ride the ferry out to Nantucket Island and while there you should visit the whaling museum. The National Seashore is another must see. It's hard to find better fried clams than you'll find on the Cape.

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The U. S. S. Consititution, Charlestown, MA

The U. S. S. Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the U. S. Navy. It was built in the late 1700s and commissioned in July of 1797. The Constitution is used as a training vessel by the Navy and is located at the Charlestown Naval Yard. It is open to the public year round. You can see a lot of the ship on a self-guided tour. There's an excellent museum about 150 yards away with a great gift shop. If you're ever in the Boston area, it's a must see.

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Sligo, Ireland

Sligo is a beautiful town in the northwest of Ireland. The great Irish poet, W. B. Yeats spent time in Sligo and wrote about the area. There is a bronze statue of Yeats on a street corner in the downtown area that is a must see. Freindly people, beautiful scenery, fine public houses, and some very good restaurants. If you are so inclined, you'll get a great round of golf out on the Rosses. Stay at a Bed and Breakfast, you'll get a better feel or the people and the town.

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Donegal, Ireland

Donegal is a precious little town north of Sligo. There's some beautiful porcelain made in the area and a nice little golf course. I found a little restaurant on the town square that made great salmon fish and chips. Wander around the square and visit the shops. You'll love it.

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