Who wants to go to Death Valley? What comes to your mind when you hear the words Death Valley?? Hot desolute desert? Skorching sun? Borax? The 20 mule team? We learned that there is lots more in Death Valley that you might not know about. We did learn a bit about this intriging place.
The best time to visit isn't summer, unless you like 125 degrees weather, which I don't! Spring is the best time as far as I'm concerned. If you plan it just right you can make it to see the flowers in full bloom. Uh..we didn't plan for that! Well we tried to but I guess with all the water they have had, the blooms are a bit slow. it's OK, cause we had fun anyway.
DEATH VALLEY
Borax... pioneer William T. Coleman, one of California's most prominent businessmen. In 1881, Coleman filed claims on the richest fields of crude ore yet discovered — . By the early 1880s, he established the Harmony Borax Works near what is now Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley. Borax (sodium borate) is formed from repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes. Its chemical analysis is anhydrous borax, 53.8 percent; boric acid, 37.2 percent; sodium oxide, 16.6 percent; water of crystallization, 46.2 percent; and chloride, 37 parts per million. Borax has many applications and is widely used in cosmetics and as a cleaning agent. You can usually find borax powder in the laundry department of your local grocery store. Well that's a bit about borax. Lots more info ...
Scotty's Castle... is a two-story Spanish Villa located in northern Death Valley National Park, California, USA. It is also known as Death Valley Ranch. Scotty's Castle is not a real castle, and it did not belong to the "Scotty" from whom it got its name. Interesting story....read about it.
Titus Canyon... rugged mountains, colorful rock formations, a ghost town, petroglyphs, wildlife (all we saw were two lizards), rare plants ( you'd have to be a plant expert to know one rare plant from another) and spectacular canyon narrows (this you don't have to be an expert to appreciate)! I guess Titus Canyon is the most popular back-country road in Death Valley National Park. We loved "driving through".
Farabee's Jeep Rentals ...We rented a jeep right there in Furnace Creek. Contact Farabee's Jeep Rentals at 877-970-5337 877-970-5337 or 760-786-9872 760-786-9872 (Fax: 760-786-9873) or click on our web site. Rob called ahead to have the jeep right at the airport waiting for us. They were soooo busy they kinda forgot to have the jeep there for us. It was OK, we just walked the mile mile or so to the gas station, called the Inn van and it took us to Farabee's. When we got there they were busy getting a group in a jeep. When they realized they were suppose to have a jeep for us at the airport, they felt so bad. It was worth the efforts to get the jeep. We had a blast driving around and the jeep was so cute (OK that's my opinion not Robs). I don't think he'd call a jeep cute. I would though!!! Call Farabee's and rent a jeep. It's kinda expensive but worth it!!
ARTIST DRIVE
One of the most famous sections of Death Valley is the highly colored badlands around Zabriskie Point and Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch. More unusual and varied colors are visible a little further south in the rocks and canyons along Artist's Drive, a narrow paved one-way loop on which travel is possible south to north. Often the road bends sharply and crosses steep gullies, resulting in a rather tortuous journey with a top speed of only 15 mph, but this is a very rewarding trip with much unusual scenery, and particularly outstanding is Artist's Palette, a stretch of the hillside composed of curved bands of clayish rock in vivid hues of green, white, pink and black. There are plenty of parking places, to allow for taking photographs and exploring on foot, and the drive should be passable by all but the largest of vehicles. The route is only 9 miles long but takes at least half an hour to drive. As it climbs into the hills, there are great views across the salt flats below to the west. (http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/death_valley/south.html)
The best time to visit isn't summer, unless you like 125 degrees weather, which I don't! Spring is the best time as far as I'm concerned. If you plan it just right you can make it to see the flowers in full bloom. Uh..we didn't plan for that! Well we tried to but I guess with all the water they have had, the blooms are a bit slow. it's OK, cause we had fun anyway.
DEATH VALLEY
Borax... pioneer William T. Coleman, one of California's most prominent businessmen. In 1881, Coleman filed claims on the richest fields of crude ore yet discovered — . By the early 1880s, he established the Harmony Borax Works near what is now Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley. Borax (sodium borate) is formed from repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes. Its chemical analysis is anhydrous borax, 53.8 percent; boric acid, 37.2 percent; sodium oxide, 16.6 percent; water of crystallization, 46.2 percent; and chloride, 37 parts per million. Borax has many applications and is widely used in cosmetics and as a cleaning agent. You can usually find borax powder in the laundry department of your local grocery store. Well that's a bit about borax. Lots more info ...
Scotty's Castle... is a two-story Spanish Villa located in northern Death Valley National Park, California, USA. It is also known as Death Valley Ranch. Scotty's Castle is not a real castle, and it did not belong to the "Scotty" from whom it got its name. Interesting story....read about it.
Titus Canyon... rugged mountains, colorful rock formations, a ghost town, petroglyphs, wildlife (all we saw were two lizards), rare plants ( you'd have to be a plant expert to know one rare plant from another) and spectacular canyon narrows (this you don't have to be an expert to appreciate)! I guess Titus Canyon is the most popular back-country road in Death Valley National Park. We loved "driving through".
Farabee's Jeep Rentals ...We rented a jeep right there in Furnace Creek. Contact Farabee's Jeep Rentals at 877-970-5337 877-970-5337 or 760-786-9872 760-786-9872 (Fax: 760-786-9873) or click on our web site. Rob called ahead to have the jeep right at the airport waiting for us. They were soooo busy they kinda forgot to have the jeep there for us. It was OK, we just walked the mile mile or so to the gas station, called the Inn van and it took us to Farabee's. When we got there they were busy getting a group in a jeep. When they realized they were suppose to have a jeep for us at the airport, they felt so bad. It was worth the efforts to get the jeep. We had a blast driving around and the jeep was so cute (OK that's my opinion not Robs). I don't think he'd call a jeep cute. I would though!!! Call Farabee's and rent a jeep. It's kinda expensive but worth it!!
ARTIST DRIVE
One of the most famous sections of Death Valley is the highly colored badlands around Zabriskie Point and Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch. More unusual and varied colors are visible a little further south in the rocks and canyons along Artist's Drive, a narrow paved one-way loop on which travel is possible south to north. Often the road bends sharply and crosses steep gullies, resulting in a rather tortuous journey with a top speed of only 15 mph, but this is a very rewarding trip with much unusual scenery, and particularly outstanding is Artist's Palette, a stretch of the hillside composed of curved bands of clayish rock in vivid hues of green, white, pink and black. There are plenty of parking places, to allow for taking photographs and exploring on foot, and the drive should be passable by all but the largest of vehicles. The route is only 9 miles long but takes at least half an hour to drive. As it climbs into the hills, there are great views across the salt flats below to the west. (http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/death_valley/south.html)
There is so much more to see and do in Death Valley. It's just an hour and a half flight from Livermore Airport (LVK) to Furnace Creek (L06). We went (flew) over just north of Mt Whitney, over the top of Bishop and then into the valley. There is still quite a bit of snow in the mountains. Beautiful!! The desert has a beauty all of its own.
Furnace Creek is a popular place. They have rooms at Furnace Creek Ranch and also Furnace Creek Inn. The Ranch costs closer to our pocketbook. The Inn is expensive!! We did have brunch at the Inn. Everyone was so nice.
We did have a wonderful time. It was time to go home. We left and did a little sightseeing as we flew out of the valley. As we flew home we went right over Mammouth Mt. The winds were strong, about 35 knots. We were on auto pilot and as we flew along the wind caught our wing tip and thrust us very hard to the left. Now remember this is Maryann describing airplane stuff so if you are an aiplane person excuse my descriptions. THAT little experience scared me a ton!! Rob went higher so we could avoid the strong winds. Things went MUCH smoother at the higher altitude. I told Rob that it was a scary experience but nothing that would scare me from getting in the plane again. I think I am so addicted to flying with Rob. Maybe addicted to Rob!!! OK I am!!!
Furnace Creek is a popular place. They have rooms at Furnace Creek Ranch and also Furnace Creek Inn. The Ranch costs closer to our pocketbook. The Inn is expensive!! We did have brunch at the Inn. Everyone was so nice.
We did have a wonderful time. It was time to go home. We left and did a little sightseeing as we flew out of the valley. As we flew home we went right over Mammouth Mt. The winds were strong, about 35 knots. We were on auto pilot and as we flew along the wind caught our wing tip and thrust us very hard to the left. Now remember this is Maryann describing airplane stuff so if you are an aiplane person excuse my descriptions. THAT little experience scared me a ton!! Rob went higher so we could avoid the strong winds. Things went MUCH smoother at the higher altitude. I told Rob that it was a scary experience but nothing that would scare me from getting in the plane again. I think I am so addicted to flying with Rob. Maybe addicted to Rob!!! OK I am!!!
4 comments:
That looks like a fun trip-- a great adventure!
I LOVE Scotty's castle. We used to take family trips through Death Valley at least once a year and we ALWAYS stopped there.
You guys go on so many cool trips. Maybe for the next one you should rent one of those little jets (the kind the famous people take) and fly to Europe! Or Hawaii!
Um cause we aren't famous AND Rob can't fly one of those! Would be so cool if he could!
Post a Comment