Carl Henning

April is tulip season in Washington’s Skagit Valley. The weather was great so we didn’t have to tiptoe through the tulips… with apologies to Tiny Tim. (Actuality I listened to his rendition of Tiptoe through the Tulips and concluded that no apology is merited.) We drove through the area a bit and visited Tulip Town.

Phoenix has two zoos: The Phoenix Zoo and Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, and Safari Park. We have an annual membership to the former, but this time visited the latter (it’s expensive and 45 minutes away). Lots of photos and one video.

We took time out from planning a bunch more trips to take a trip all the way to downtown Phoenix and the state capitol. The old territorial, then state, capitol building is now the Arizona State Capitol Museum. The executive branch is now in a tower behind the old capitol building and the House and Senate are in modern buildings adjacent. (Well, the buildings were modern when they were built in the 60’s.)

Having concluded our visit to Fort Stockton with lunch… Peanut Buster Parfait at Dairy Queen (there is no shortage of Dairy Queens in Texas), we decided where to go next. Having picked up a brochure at the Fort Stockton visitor center for The Caverns of Sonora, that became our destination.

When there’s a sign that says “Museum” I’m always intrigued. Having frequently passed a sign on I10 near Fort Stockton that says “Annie Griggs Museum” I finally decided it was time. When we finished touring we decided on our next destination, the Caverns of Sonora.

Don’t visit the White Sands Missile Museum because it’s closed on this Monday, a holiday (President’s Day). Maybe some other time. Instead we followed a Mission Trail south of El Paso. Of the three missions, one was closed on Mondays. one was open, and one was open but the adjacent museum was closed on Mondays. So the misses multiplied.

Things to do in and around Las Cruces, NM. Visit Dripping Springs in the new Organ National Monument, White Sands National Monument, and the New Mexico Space History Museum. Don’t visit the White Springs Missile Museum because it’s closed on Sundays.