Matt | Destination Tree

All the Lights We Cannot See

July 30, 2016 by Matt

As a kid, I didn’t really have an opportunity to experience a “real” dark sky. I saw pictures of what they were supposed to look like, but I grew up in the suburbs of southeast Michigan where street lamps, porch lights and strip mall signs all did their part to cloak the brilliance of the stars. It didn’t occur to me for many years why there was a difference between what I saw in books and what I saw looking up in the sky.

US lights — This United States map helps show where the most light pollution from our cities is concentrated. Get out to the “dark” areas of the country, and you’ll see a much different sky. Photo credit: NASA

When I say “real” dark skies I’m talking the kind of night sky where stars shine so brightly that they can literally light up a country road as you walk along on a cloudless, moonless night. When I was a kid, we also didn’t have internet access in the palm of our hand, so I gleaned my interstellar inspiration for the night sky from books, movies and magazines. i.e. Star Wars and National Geographic. However as good as they were, when I began to grow older and more appreciative of the night sky, these resources only left me wanting to see the real thing with my own two eyes.

Over the last year, Kristin and I have been traveling around the country in our truck and mobile abode/business headquarters. During this time we’ve had the opportunity to truly experience what nature intended us to see when we look up at the night sky. Once we left the light pollution behind and made our way into the few remaining places in our country that we humans haven’t affected, it became very clear to us just what we’ve been missing out on all these years.

nat geo stars — I have been captivated by the stars for decades, and feel as though I’ve finally escaped the lights to experience their true beauty. Photo credit: National Geographic.

The only way I can really describe a true dark sky, without any light pollution interfering, would be one word: ‘ALIVE’. The night sky simply speaking is ALIVE!! A REAL dark sky actually isn’t dark at all. It is brilliantly lit up with an uncountable number of twinkling, flashing, and shining stars. Even if I started counting at sundown, I would literally run out of time to count all the stars visible to us before the sunrise blocked them all out again. That’s how many we can see up there.

Among other things illuminating the night sky are a multitude of satellites darting around like the world’s most complex game of 1980’s Pong. There are thousands of satellites crisscrossing above us. And there is almost a near constant barrage of space debris and meteors shooting across the sky, like mighty roman candles from a distant giant’s unseen, outstretched arm.

starry-night — You’ve probably noticed none of the pictures in this blog post are our own. It takes a talented photographer to capture the beauty of the night sky. We focused on enjoying it with our eyes, but wanted to share the next best thing with you. Photo credit: National Geographic.

After witnessing our first dark sky, we learned that if you wish upon a shooting star, you better have a lengthy wish list…we saw so many we ran clean out of wishes that night. There are also constellations, constellations and more constellations on display, everywhere you look. And the almighty North Star that was always the icon I found in the sky as a kid actually becomes lost in a pool of brightly shining clones in a real dark sky.

As we continue to gaze up, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus (and other planets, depending on the time of year) all battle it out for our upward gazing attention. Looking like slower versions of satellites, we’ve watched high altitude airplanes soaring at the fringes of the earth and occasionally we’ve seen and heard late night military aircraft roaring overhead. Even the space station has waved hi to us as it glides many miles up across the sky.

Last but not least the Milky Way greets us. It is our favorite illuminated swath of lights from some ancient otherworldly paint explosion gone awry. Milky Way! Oh, how you’ve allowed us to get lost in wonder for hours at a time. The books, magazines and movies that sparked my night sky wonder are nothing in comparison to the real Milky Way, seen with my own two eyes.

The Milky Way is nothing less than magical. And reminds us how very small we are in the great big galaxy. Photo credit: National Geographic.

It’s a liberating feeling to take in the grandeur of a living dark sky. Out here, time seems to stop under the ever moving night. And whatever challenges the day may have brought begin to fade away as the dancing lights take over my thoughts. I’m left with only one problem. Refilling my wish list as fast as I can as the plethora of shooting stars carry my good fortunes away to the land of interstellar wish granting. A great problem to face in my opinion.

There are many places around the country we have had the good fortune of experiencing true dark skies. And here are our top ten favorite places for admiring nocturnal works of art:

Northeast Maine
Eastern Washington
Montana
Wyoming
Southern New Mexico
Southwest Texas (Big Bend)
Southern Arizona
The Oregon Coast
Northern California (in the redwoods)
North & South Dakota

These aren’t the only places you can view a real dark sky, but if you visit any of these locales on a clear night, I know you won’t be disappointed. It goes without saying but if you’re anywhere within fifty miles of a decent sized city or an area producing light pollution, the affect just won’t be the same. Same goes if there’s a full moon, or near full moon.

A MOSTLY dark sky is NOT the same thing as a REAL dark sky. For a real dark sky there are no shortcuts, you just have to travel to some of the isolated places still left in our expansive country.

In a shrinking countryside, that is being encroached upon daily by an ever increasing number of shopping malls, subdivisions, airports and headlights, we highly recommend getting out and experiencing a living dark sky firsthand.

I say this with an irony as thick as the stars in the Milky Way, but it seems that in order to see the light, we must first turn it off.

Cheers to the beauty of the night,
Matt

Spirits, Scotches and The Shining

July 3, 2016 by Matt

The Stanley Hotel is rumored to be one of the most haunted hotels in America and was Stephen King’s inspiration for the book The Shining. Our experience at The Stanley Hotel did not disappoint.

Standing in front of the hauntingly beautiful Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, CO.

However, there is more to this sensory packed place than just the guests who never checked out. Here’s our list of the top ten reasons why this historic hotel needs to be on your bucket list.

1. The Location

Tucked high up in the snowy peaks of the Colorado Rockies, it clocks in at over 7,500 feet in elevation with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and surrounding town of Estes Park. If you’re looking for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life for a while then this stunning setting is unmatched by all but a few hotels in the US, and is just outside the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. After a long night of ghosting hunting, wake up with a brisk mountain hike and stunning scenery.

While this picture turned out blurry, it perfectly captures a misty, mysterious feeling and the grandeur of this historic hotel.

Prepare for a warm welcome to The Stanley Hotel.

2. The Scent

Outside the hotel is an all-encompassing fresh pine scent with floral notes due to the meticulously cared for landscaping. The grounds even have the beginnings of a hedge maze (reminiscent of the maze from the movie The Shining). While inside, the hard to describe yet enjoyable smell of 107 years of history permeate the halls and rooms. It smells old, but comforting.

Although a freak hail storm rolled through minutes before we arrived, the landscaping was already blooming and the smell of pine was so fresh and amazing you couldn’t help but breathe it in and sigh.

This has the makings of an amazing maze!

3. The Fireplace

Four large black leather couches flank a toasty, constantly flickering fireplace. A perfect spot to sit back in good conversation or to people watch the patrons coming and going while your drink of choice is in hand.

My drink of choice happens to be an IPA. Yours could be a hot chocolate, a hot coffee or a libation of your choice. The point is to melt into the leather chair and listen to the crackling fire.

4. Drink of Choice

With over 150 scotches and an incredible stock pile of beers, wines and distilled spirits to choose from you can be assured that your favorite selection will be on hand and in yours shortly. With a “Red Rum” Shining-inspired cocktail, and a cold, refreshing local IPA on tap, we sat back and took in the grandeur of the bar with a backdrop that felt straight out of the movie. Sadly, the bartender was not Lloyd.

Having a little fun reenacting The Shining. “I like you, Lloyd. I always liked you. You were always the best of them. Best goddamned bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine. Or Portland, Oregon, for that matter.”

5. The Rooms

They are original rooms constructed in the early 1900s, and you can be certain the floors, ceilings and walls have seen a lot of history. Our room was 401. It was very old meets new, with clean, modern amenities, but an old opulence to it with ornate wooden furniture, plush carpet and latched windows. The windows still opened by dumb counter weights while only seven feet away from a large HD TV showing two versions of The Shining on a continuous loop. It was quite an experience, especially as we listened to hotel guided ghost tour after tour stop outside our room in discussion of just how very “active” the ghosts in our room like to be. Yikes!

Setting the mood! They play The Shining 24/7 at The Stanley Hotel!

6. The Hallways & Elevators

Described in a word…creepy! Probably enhanced by our imagination and the recalled Hollywood movies scenes. We walked the four floors numerous times during the day and well into the evening after midnight. Contrary to what I was expecting, there were no sinister twin children to be found, nor did blood flow from the elevator, but it really wasn’t needed as the setting has a natural way of raising goosebumps and making you extra aware of things that go bump in the night. We even watched as the amateur ghost hunters walked around the hotel late at night with their fancy detection equipment looking for a sign of activity.

Take the stairs, take the halls, take the elevator…creepy around every corner!

7. The Ghosts

They are said to be seen everywhere on the grounds and its buildings, however two rooms in particular see more than their share of experiences according to the hotel. Room 217 and 401.

217 is rumored to be haunted by a female ghost who tidies up the room while guests are not there as well as folds and puts away clothes for weary travelers. Nice ghost!

In our room, 401, a ghost rumored to be Lord Dunraven enjoys breaking glasses, holding parties in the linen closet and throwing men’s wallets, rings and accessories down the toilet. He is also said to push down on men’s chest as they sleep to make it hard for them to breathe. Not cool! He’s apparently not a fan of males, but IS a fan of the ladies. He likes to touch their hair and put an unseen arm around them. However, we didn’t experience any of these things.

I was thrilled and Kristin was uncertain about staying in the most haunted room at The Stanley Hotel.

We did have two unusual events take place though. Before we left for dinner, I left two windows open for fresh air. When we returned, one of those windows was closed and bolted shut. How this happened I have no idea, but it certainly was unexpected.

The second event actually took place at exactly 4:32am while we were sound asleep. We had no idea something odd occurred until a few days later when we were watching the videos we took throughout the hotel. The last photos or videos we took were around 12:30am, but we had a video on our phone at 4:32am. The ghost decided to record a video in the room. Funny thing was that there was no visual, only a pitch black screen with audio. Somehow, the phone was unlocked, turned to camera mode, switched to video mode, and the record button pressed to start and stop the video. The audio from the roughly 20 second clip is that of something walking around the room on the creaky floor boards over by the window that had been shut earlier that day as birds can be heard chirping and it finished with a low muffled noise towards the end that we could not decipher. Take a look/listen for yourself…

Cool as hell to stumble upon yet still crazy! On a side note, the next morning an older gentleman staff member (who laughed ominously when we told him the room we were staying in) told us of an event that happened to him downstairs while closing up the gift/coffee shop. Apparently, his phone had turned on across the room, and though he heard no sound, a voice text appeared on his screen that said, “scary…isn’t it” Needless to say it freaked him out.

8. The Dining

We enjoyed a late night snack of ghost pepper wings and truffle fries but it was the breakfast that really stood out. The hotel has delicious menu choices all homemade by trained chefs in a kitchen known to have paranormal activity. If you’re looking to hear real life stories, not just in the movies, simply ask your waiters or bartenders. They all have experiences and are not shy about telling you all about them. We started to ask our server which room was the most haunted and mid-sentence she cut us off and blurted out 401!

Pre-breakfast smiles. It was so good and so delicious, we didn’t stop to take a single picture of the delicious food. You’ll have to trust me, it was amazing.

9. The Elk

Known for having a large population of Elk, Estes Park has laws protecting these horned beasts, and so they roam all over the town. We drove by one that was bigger than a horse with a rack that could easily pick up and engulf a full grown man. Majestic creatures they are, and in this town you can get up close and personal with them…just be sure to maintain a safe distance. They are wild animals after all.

Perhaps the only time it’s appropriate to say, “Look at that rack!”

10. The History

Every wall is covered with old photos and descriptions of a time long ago. They have pictures and stories of what life was like in the area as well as the nature, the famous guests who have stayed there, the movies filmed there, etc. You name it, the walls are filled with interesting facts. It even has old cars inside and grand pianos played by famous musicians. Not to mention an aquarium in the lowest level filled with fish that are local to the area. We could have spent hours just staring and learning while in the hotel.

A little historic background on the ghost supposedly active in our room, #401.

Whether or not you’re a paranormal fool like me, ghost hunting isn’t the only reason to visit the historic Stanley Hotel. Hopefully you get the chance to explore this old hotel and the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park.

No matter what destinations we have on our so-called bucket lists, there’s always room for one more. And this place is definitely worthy of putting on anyone’s list. Cheers to the spirits of The Stanley Hotel.

Matt

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Phantoms of the Deep South

June 25, 2016 by Matt

Our exploration of the Deep South included an enormous Navy Battleship and two famous plantations. It was certainly hard to narrow down the list of possible paranormal places we could visit while in the South, especially since Louisiana has many famed haunted plantations, all with their fair share of storied histories. But we’re fitting in as much as we can on our year long journey, and decided to spend more time at just a few places, and spent several hours exploring each one.

U.S.S. Alabama

Deep down in the belly of this beast is where I caught it…the shadow man. But let me back up to the beginning.

First of all, the ship and grounds of the U.S.S. Alabama are HUGE! The shore is littered with super cool, retired military planes, choppers, tanks, cannons, an SR-71 Blackbird and even a submarine.

Even Dobie thought the tanks were pretty cool.

Kristin decided to stay with the pups and tour all of these awesome relics while I boarded the ship. It was early on a weekday morning, so we were some of the first visitors to arrive and I was one of the few people exploring the U.S.S. Alabama.

It took about 25 minutes to descend from the top down to the bowels of the ship where the engine room is located. I wandered all throughout every level taking in the history as I snapped photos and videos. It felt a little stifling in the tight quarters but I didn’t sense any ghosts of sailors while down there.

As you can tell, the sleeping quarters for the men were very snug…

No ghosts here, just a mannequin navy man…

After an hour of exploring the ship I went back out and met up with Kristin. It wasn’t until later that evening, when I was going through the photos that I found this:

I was in this area alone. But look behind me.

Look closely in the hallway behind me…there is a shadow, and certainly not my own. And this time, it’s no mannequin. I know for damn sure that I was the only human down in this area at that time, and I certainly would have known if someone was standing in the hall right behind me. So, I don’t know what else to say other than I think I may have finally caught a dark apparition. One lurking behind me in the belly of that great big military beast parked in the coastal waters of Mobile, Alabama. If you get the opportunity to tour this ship, do it! And do it on a week day morning when no one else is around and maybe you’ll catch a shadowy visitor in your photos as well.

Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana

Oak Alley Plantation…a beautiful estate fabled for its iconic live oaks flanking the front and back entrances to the property.

We were all smiles upon arrival, walking in amazement under these enormous live oaks leading up to “The Big House”

This place has been in several movies and upon our arrival the view did not disappoint! We arrived at the plantation super early before it opened and lucky for us we had the place to ourselves for a little while to soak it all in.

These live oaks are more than 300 years old, and someone certainly had the foresight to know what an amazingly beautiful entrance these trees would make for Oak Alley Plantation.

There were barns, outbuildings, old slave quarters and gardens to explore. A red fox scampered by us on the lawn, greeting us upon our approach to the main house. Shortly after they opened, an employee was serving up early morning mint juleps and mint julep lemonades. According to her, ‘there is no wrong time, day or night, to sip on the medicine of the south’. We agree.

So, after roaming the grounds looking for signs of the paranormal and with medicine in hand, we entered the “Big House” on a small tour with our guide leading the way.

The wraparound porch and enormous columns are an elaborate welcome to this historic mansion.

We listened intently to the history and tragedy that took place inside these walls. Guests and employees have reported numerous strange encounters with dark shadowy figures roaming the halls, phantom people in 1800s clothing appearing and disappearing out of sight and faces looking through windows from empty rooms.

During our tour I spoke to an employee who told me she refuses to enter a particular room on the second floor. While giving a tour, she lost her voice in the room and experienced a rising sense of panic. Several others have had similar experiences mysteriously losing their voice while in the room. Interesting to say the least. So, of course, the next logical step for Kristin and I was to meander over to that room and start provoking the breath stealing specters within.

This is the room where some people mysteriously lose their voice, only to find it again once they leave…

Repeatedly we asked for them to try and quiet us while we took videos and photos. And just like that what happened next was completely expected…nothing. No unusual sights or sounds. Just a feeling of awe for how incredibly difficult it must have been to construct a mansion of such magnitude in the mosquito laden swamps of the hot, humid south with rooms so detailed and beautiful. No on-demand ghosts this time……so back to the over to the other side of the mansion we caught up with our tour.

Having finished our hour long exploration inside the sweltering “Big House” we went outside to the grounds again for one final walk around this majestic place.

We left Oak Alley with memories of a gorgeous historical place, whose former residents still seem to roam about, entertaining guests and scaring the very breath out of them. It is a bit off the beaten path, but if you are willing to make the visit, go early, not only to avoid the crowds but to avoid the heat and humidity that sets in as well.

Despite any heat or humidity, sit down, enjoy a cool drink and the majestic views at Oak Alley.

Myrtles Plantation, Francisville, Louisiana

Our second haunted southerly estate was Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It is regarded to many as one of America’s most haunted houses. I’ve wanted to come to this incredible place since TAPS explored it several years back and peaked my interest.

The Myrtles. Infamous for possibly being the most haunted house in America.

From objects moving, hand prints appearing on mirrors, shot gun murders, poisoning, drownings, hangings, epidemics and even possessed dolls that come alive at night, this place has ALL the makings of a Hollywood nightmare.

Like Oak Alley, Myrtles also lies on the Mighty Mississippi River, about 25 miles north of Baton Rouge, and nowhere even close to the beaten path. It lies deeeep within the Bayou country of this great state.

We arrived at dusk and took an evening tour on a weeknight. We had an awesome guide (Miss Allison) who was dressed in antebellum style attire and was extremely knowledgeable about the history of this beautiful plantation. Most tours have 30-40 people, and somehow we lucked out…we had a private tour with just one other couple.

However, before our tour even started we arrived and stepped out of the truck into a thick steaming cloud of humidity teaming with mosquitoes, lizards, birds, bats and insect noises of all sorts. Just like one would imagine the deep-south to offer up! I LOVED it as it made for the perfect setting in my opinion, although Kristin did not share in my sentiment, as she frantically slapped away mosquitoes.

It felt like a step back in time to stand outside of The Myrtles Plantation.

Together we walked around the grounds of this mossy covered jungle stopping periodically to imagine life 200 years ago. The history of Myrtles is quite long and very much worth reading up on (even if you never make the hike out to this destination).

An old well outside Myrtles Plantation…careful, don’t fall in.

However, in the four hours that we spent here we were blown away by the stories and private photos taken by guests and staff. Not to mention, our own experiences. And believe it or not, it is actually a functioning bed and breakfast and has guest rooms on the main floor and second floor (which we were unfortunately not able to enter). I would love to stay the night here since these rooms are ‘off limits to tours’ and have a tremendous amount of ghostly activity. Kristin would not.

Before dark, it doesn’t look too scary, perhaps a quite welcoming B&B, The Myrtles guests experience some interesting phenomena after dark…

Miss Allison told us about a few first-hand accounts from recent overnight B&B guests (some of whom did not complete their stay and left hurriedly in the middle of the night), as well as some of her own experiences. A few of these first-hand accounts….

Some people felt a ghostly presence tap them awake in the middle of the night and others felt their feet being grabbed while in bed. The ghosts seem to be particularly drawn to women, and a few have felt their hair being pulled and an arm put around them.

One particular guest room is full of dolls…and the overnight guests placed one of the dolls (which was rumored to be possessed) in the hallway. The couple woke in the middle of the night to find it back in the room, sitting on the husband’s chest. In yet another room there is a little girl who peeks over the edge of the bed, jumps on the bed, and tries to snuggle with guests in the bed, before disappearing.

In a downstairs guest room, a butler in a tuxedo appeared to a guest and asked if they needed anything, after responding they did not, he walked around a corner and disappeared. By the way, this bed and breakfast has no butlers. And many potential guests have called to complain that they were turned away at the gate, being told by a gatekeeper that the plantation was closed. There are no gatekeepers at Myrtles Plantation and they were never closed!

Pictures are not allowed throughout the house except in the entry way. We took pictures of the mirror here that seems to have some unexplained phenomena. Every time it is cleaned and restored, the mirror is clear of imperfections, and every time there are marks and discolorations that reappear. Some resembling claw marks as though something is trying to get out…

The mirror in the entryway of The Myrtles…even when cleaned and restored, dark marks like this continue to reappear, and if you look closely, it does look like claw marks trying to get out!

These are just a few of the stories and paranormal events that have been experienced here. And although we didn’t encounter any phantoms throughout our tour of the house, we did have two strange things happen. Both of us felt goosebumps and cold breezes on the tour at different times in different rooms. Funny enough the house has no air duct system, nor AC units. The windows were closed downstairs and the warm, humid air was the only thing surrounding the house. We’re not sure where the cold came from.

Lastly, our guide stopped in her tracks when a door behind Kristin and I started to rattle and shake while she was talking. Paranormal? We can’t say for sure, but both occurrences sure helped to cap off the exploration of the plantation in a memorable way.

After the tour was over we walked the grounds across a boardwalk bridge to an island gazebo surrounded by a pond of chirping frogs!

It was so crazy loud we could barely hear each other talking! We walked around the pond, past the little cabins, looking for Chloe, the highly active ghost of a former house slave. In addition to Chloe, we also looked for the many spirits that are said to run freely both day and night around the property grounds. We walked and listened and looked but soon it became pitch black so we decided to head to the truck and call it a night. All I can say is WOW, this place really lives up to its reputation as one of America’s most haunted houses. I would definitely come back here.

An after dark walk around The Myrtles Plantation.

All in all, the south has many mysteries and stories to be shared. Enough to fill a month’s worth of front porch rocking chair conversation sessions (with medicine in hand of course)! So grab your bug spray and your sense of adventure and high tail it down to the Bayous of the deep-south for a frightening good time, we promise you that you won’t be disappointed in the experience.

Cheers!
Matt

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Historic and Haunted Florida

June 25, 2016 by Matt

Lots of people think of sunshine and beaches when they think of Florida, and trust me, we had our fair share of fun in the sun. But, Florida also has lots of historic locales, teeming with paranormal activity. So, after the sun sets make your way from the beach to the streets and you might just run across some spirits.

The Stranahan House, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Built in 1901, this fanciful, historic house is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and a few of the original residents seem to have survived as well.

We arrived at dusk, soon enough to appreciate the preserved architecture of this old home.

Frank and Ivy Stranahan who built the home, are both rumored to still reside here. Unfortunately, Frank met his demise after the loss of his fortune during the Great Depression, when he committed suicide by drowning himself in the river outside the house, and Ivy died in an upstairs bedroom.

The room where Ivy died. Often reported to have indents in the bed, as though someone has been sitting on it. And items in the room, including a watch, that go missing and then mysteriously reappear later.

We all used dousing rods throughout the house, and while they did seem to indicate some activity, we didn’t experience a personal encounter with Frank or Ivy, although many paranormal accounts are reported here. We did enjoy the guided haunted tour and the historic stories of this cool, riverfront home. After the house tour, we took to the waters and enjoyed a dark, legend-filled cruise along the river!

The view of the Stranahan House from a boat on the river. Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this photo is this old historic home, framed by tall modern buildings under construction with huge cranes!

Coral Castle, FL

Home to legends of aliens, elves, mystical powers and a pint sized little man (5’ tall, 100lbs). Edward Leedskalnin was a mason, a romantic and a man of vision back in the early 1900s.

Actual size of Edward compared to me 🙂 Quite a difference! And helps confirm the impressiveness that this small man built this “castle” all by himself!

With our paranormal guest investigators, Chad & Michelle (brother and sister in law), we toured this one man creation in all its glory.

Our guest investigators – Chad & Michelle…and yes, that’s a 5,000 pound, heart shaped table, and since cut flowers don’t last, it has constant blooms with this flowering tree! Edward was a romantic fellow.

Huge blocks of coquina (a type of limestone) weighing several tons were used to create the formations of this castle. Built over a span of 28 years for his lost love, Edward worked only at night and completely by himself.

There is quite the debate about how he actually managed this amazing feat. How did one man carve and move stone weighing several tons? Some people believe he used ancient knowledge of anti-gravity technology, others believe he had paranormal (aliens? Elves?) help, and some believe he used simple physics, basic tools and a whole lot of patience. Regardless, it truly is a feat to behold.

Each element of the castle was thoughtfully designed and created by Edward, many had astrological and masonic meaning.

Personally, I’d like to believe Edward was a man of knowledge and a world traveler who very well could have used the magic of sound waves discovered in his travels to assist him in his building process. In the end, doubters are going to doubt and believers are going to believe. Let’s just leave it at that.

An aerial view of the impressive Coral Castle Grounds…

St. Augustine, FL

Jails, lighthouses, fortresses, and cemeteries…this town has it all. And with the claim of being the oldest city in the U.S. it has plenty of history and hauntings. As far as kick-ass haunted ghost tours in the night go, this town is one of the best that we’ve been on and we’ve been on many. We usually like to explore paranormal locations on our own, but every now and again we sign up for a guided tour. On this trip we did both.

First, we spent all day touring the city on our own. The old lighthouse was our first stop and has been on my list since TAPS investigated it and caught all sorts of sights and sounds on film.

Construction of the St. Augustine lighthouse began in 1871, it was completed in 1874, and it stands 164 feet tall…

Supposedly, the lighthouse keeper passed away here, as well as two little girls who have been seen running up and down the 219 stairs. We saw neither. (Unless the girls blended in unnoticed with the many other children visiting with their families!)

219 stairs to the top, and not wide enough for two people to pass, so occasionally you need to wait on a landing for visitors going the opposite direction.

As an added bonus, the views from the top are absolutely priceless (unless you have vertigo or a fear or heights!)

Next was the old jail, built by a giant of a warden, who had his house constructed as an add-on to the jail. Always on the job!

This hot, humid and torturous building is believed to be rife with spirits who met their maker here. Prisoners hung from birdcage cells in the trees, piled into overpopulated prison cells, performed ball and chain labor, shackled to one another without water in the sweltering heat and built the very gallows they would later be hanged from.

The Gallows at the St. Augustine Jail…prisoners often built them for their own hanging.

This jail was a horrible place where inmates usually died long before the sentence was complete. Needless to say, when the sun goes down, the rumors of the inmates coming out of the shadows begins.

Next up…the old historic fort, Castillo de San Marcos. This grand and ginormous fortress was constructed over 23 years and completed in 1695. It’s actually the eighth fortress on the site as the previous 7 (made of wood) burned to the ground. I guess they got it right when they built it out of tiny coral shell blocks called coquina, since it’s lasted over 300 years this time around.

Castillo de San Marcos in downtown St. Augustine is a massive structure.

Sitting directly on Matanzas River, and within sight of the Atlantic Ocean, the fort was a hot spot for violence, bloodshed and massacres.

Hard to believe this historic structure overlooking such a beautiful waterway was the scene of such violence.

Unfortunately, the fort does not stay open past dusk, and for good reason, as there are steep drop offs and no railings. However, I would love to come back for an evening of exploration, with some ice cold Cigar City IPA.

It was fascinating to visit during the day, and you can imagine how treacherous it could be at night…

We capped off our time in St. Augustine, with an evening ghost tour of the old town. It has many historic buildings, courtyards and graveyards. It was a steamy, humid evening, with a slight breeze and an air of excitement.

We weaved in and out of the oldest parts of town, listening to fascinating legends…this was just one of the cemetery’s with a storied past.

There was an energy that set down on the town after the tourists left…one that had us looking over our shoulders for sounds that seemed to emanate from nowhere.

Currently a bed and breakfast, this building used to be the towns funeral home…where bodies in coffins were displayed in those very windows…not so sure I’d want to stay at this particular B&B…

We had an animated guide who shared fascinating histories and legends. All in all, St. Augustine is a uniquely thrilling town both in the heat of the day and in the dark of the night.

Next time you’re in Florida, we hope you enjoy the sunshine and the beaches, but we highly recommend checking out any of these haunted, historic sites if you get the opportunity!

Stay tuned for more paranormal adventures on our cross country road trip!

Cheers!

Matt

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Don’t Mess With (Haunted) Texas

June 25, 2016 by Matt

Unexplained paranormal lights…bloody battle zones of historic proportions…ancient and spiritual Native American lands…what do all three of these things have in common? Well, they’re all locations of our Texas paranormal adventures! While Kristin plans our year-long road trip routes and national park adventures, I make sure we fit in some paranormal adventures along the way. Perhaps you read all about why you Don’t Mess With Texas, but I’ll fill you in on why you Don’t Mess With (Haunted) Texas!

Marfa Mystery Lights, Marfa, TX

The mysterious Marfa Lights are unexplained light sources that bounce around in a distant field in West Texas. Literally in the middle of nowhere.

After driving for hours past cacti, darting jack rabbits and the ever present tumble weeds of West Texas we finally made it to Marfa about an hour before sundown. We dropped the trailer at a site just outside the tiny village of Marfa, and drove to the viewing station where the lights are best seen.

Sorry, I know, bad picture. Squint when you need to and read a little about the Marfa Mystery Lights…

After the sun dropped below the horizon and as the stars began to appear, Kristin and I stood in the chilly late winter air, virtually by ourselves. As we huddled together and watched, we saw lights begin to appear over the distant horizon and dart about. Some seemed to stand still, others traveled in a straight line, and even a few looked like they might possibly be moving backwards. After about 45 minutes of watching the lights, we came to the conclusion that it was most likely an optical illusion from a road off in the distance. Far enough where two headlights merged into one, but close enough to still be visible. Who knows, maybe they really were aliens playing a late night game of kick the can, but we still stand by our conclusions. Although…that doesn’t exactly explain away the claim of reported lights in 1883…

The Alamo, San Antonio, TX

Let’s just say it takes seven huge placards of detailed description outside of the old mission just to tell all the stories behind its long history. The Alamo has seen its fair share of tragedy to say the least. We took two different self-guided tours of the grounds and buildings. Both times it just felt sad here. Sad in a way that made us wish people could communicate and work problems out without violence, cannons, muskets, hatchets and swords.

I’ve read stories of people seeing sentinels walking the rooftops and perimeter walls around the location, so I kept a watchful eye. Aside from the overwhelming history of unnecessary bloodshed, we didn’t encounter anything paranormal while there, and our pictures didn’t show anything out of the ordinary both in the daytime and evening visits. We would highly recommend coming here if you are in the San Antonio area, just get in early in the morning before the crowds begin to assemble around this beautiful historic site.

Indian Head, Terlingua, TX

Although we covered this place in our petroglyphs blog, it absolutely warranted mentioning in our paranormal adventures. Again, we cannot stress the awesomeness of this location within Big Bend National Park. There were no maps or signs to get to the area, just word of mouth from locals.

Hiking in and around the rocks and petroglyphs, Indian Head definitely feels like a spiritual place.

I’d recommend a 4×4 vehicle to get to this mystical place as well as a whole lot of H2O to stay hydrated…it’s cold first thing in the morning, and it gets HOT fast! The entire area is located on and around a few small mountains where a supposed spirit veil has trapped evil spirits contained deep down in the sandy river bed below. Think I’m joking? Well, I’m not. And our normally fearless dogs? They were extremely uncomfortable…whining, pacing and ready to leave.

Besides the strange behavior from the dogs, all I can say is we had a strange sensation of being watched as we scrambled in and around the rocks and petroglyphs in this area. I also felt uneasy about what looked like unnatural caves several hundred feet up on the sides of sheer cliffs.

I’m standing at the base of the rocks on the right hand side, and up and to the right you can see some of the dark circular caves I mentioned. I definitely had the feeling of being “watched” while we were here.

A word of advice…don’t do anything to mess with the area, or take anything away from it, as it is a place of spiritual importance and to disrespect it would not be good. This is definitely a place of mystery and history.

Our haunted adventures continue in the South…stay tuned for more!

Cheers!
Matt

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Discover Haunted Bisbee

May 28, 2016 by Matt

Bisbee. It’s as fun as it sounds. And perhaps their website describes it best: “Bisbee is a free-spirited place with a thriving arts/music/hospitality scene, amid a remarkably well-preserved historical architectural setting.” And you know what lots of history means…lots of potential paranormal activity, and thus this historic stop is another paranormal adventure…

An initial walk through downtown Bisbee uncovered a cute town, with a cool vibe and lots of funky shops and cafes.

The Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee Arizona

The visitor’s center had interesting displays of old mining equipment and was where we suited up for our underground adventure…

Finally we get to explore a mine that’s open! Mix one part eerie, one part legit mine shafts with two parts cool as hell, add a splash of pitch dark and a sprinkle of claustrophobia with a garnish of hard hats, flashlights and waterproof raincoats and you have the perfect underground haunted cocktail.

Fully geared up we load up onto a tiny train, our guide unlocks the mine gates and takes us deep underground…

The copper mine was operational for nearly a hundred years before closing down in 1975. These days it’s open to the public for guided tours.

We went down via tiny rail cars, which pumped our anxiety high when it derailed and had to be pried back on the tracks. Our guides were calm and cool and got us back on track…literally.

The entrance to the Copper Queen Mine…that little gate gets unlocked and opened for the train to roll through…

The guides are all former mine workers, and have incredible stories about life in the mines and make the epic adventure deep underground even more authentic. Surprisingly, out of the thousands who worked the mine, only a handful had ever died there.

At our deepest, we were 700 feet under the mountain top, definitely not a place to freak out. I kept an eye and ear open for any sign of tommy knockers…our guide and Kristin both gave me skeptical looks.

Eeeek! We unload off the train and walk from here!

I’ll say the mine is to me still a “para” normal place because it’s not every day we get to see such an engineering marvel of a location. Some of the side shafts and air shafts dropped over 1,000 feet below us. It’s definitely not a tunnel system that I’d want to be wandering in without a light source…it gave absolute darkness a whole new meaning.

Experiencing the Copper Queen Mine was an exhilarating adventure.

You could easily get turned around underground. Just in case, there are signs to get you back to the surface.

We also don’t recommend it for those with even the mildest case of claustrophobia. Otherwise it’s a great adventure!

Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee Arizona

Old school is the best word for this haunted retreat. It has been investigated by numerous paranormal groups and all believe it to be infested with the undead.

Dobie & I outside the Copper Queen Hotel…he barely tolerated a photo and insisted he didn’t want to go inside on a ghost hunt. He’s part chicken and opted for an afternoon nap instead.

First things first, Kristin and I each partook in an ice cold beer in the hotel bar before starting our way through the cozy historic lobby and up the grand staircase.

The lobby feels like a step back in time with original woodwork and antique furniture.

It’s the upper floors that are said to be the points of activity however on the second floor Kristin decided to stay while I made my way up to the third and fourth floors.

Taking numerous pictures and talking aloud into thin air I had hoped for a response from some of its residents. At one point on the fourth floor I came across a door handle that was jiggling from the inside for what seemed like an awfully long time. I couldn’t rule out human error so I won’t call it evidence of anything paranormal, but it continued to jiggle for 15-20 seconds as I watched from the hallway.

The location of the jiggling door handle…

The upper floors kind of gave me a sad feeling and teetered towards a more not-so-nice side of human behavior, at least that’s the feeling I got from it. So I headed back down after my self-guided tour and met back up with Kristin.

If walls could talk, I imagine there would be plenty of stories to behold in this history packed place of legend. After about an hour inquisitively searching the building we decided it was time to move on. So with more to see and do in the town on our agenda, we left the Copper Queen behind and off we went.

The Olive Oil Store

All I can say about this place is it’s off the radar, run by a kind man who loved to talk and is afraid of the underground space below his own shop. The building shares the same area of basement walls as the Copper Queen Hotel, though not connected. And it is packed full of energy. Not only does he feel it emanating from the building’s dark space below but guest mediums and investigators who have been down there also believe it to have a presence.

bisbee-olive-oil — Inviting and unassuming from the outside, with plenty of olive oil and balsamic options on the inside…but underneath is another story.

What’s down there? We don’t know, and neither did he. All he knew was that whatever it is hides under two steel doors at the back of his shop. While listening to his stories he also showed us pictures of the place. I kind of wanted to check it out but decided against it. Not only is it unwise to take candy from strangers, it’s probably unwise to walk into dark basements of haunted old brick buildings run by a stranger. Based on his pictures, it looks like kids from the sixties sprayed graffiti on the walls and probably played with Ouija boards. Who knows what might reside down below…as for us, we left with some tasty olive oil and spicy peanuts. Maybe one day there will be a professional paranormal investigation here.

That’s it for the paranormal Southwest…stay tuned for America’s Haunted South next….

Cheers!

Matt

Legends of the Great American Southwest

May 9, 2016 by Matt

The southwest is vast and mysterious and so are its legends! From untamed deserts to Wild West towns and historic establishments, we went in search for it all. Many of the locations we visited were places I’d had on my personal bucket list for years. So without further ado, as part of our year-long road trip, we bring you the continuation of our Paranormal Explorations in the American Southwest…

Historic Wickenburg, Arizona

About an hour northwest of Phoenix, Arizona is the little historic town of Wickenburg. It was a sunny morning when we took a self-guided tour of several locations dating back to the 1800s within the town. Its parlors, hotels and train station are all said to have encounters of unseen members of centuries past, still lurking about.

One of the most interesting landmarks is an old oak tree that grows in the middle of town and was used as a makeshift jail for nearly thirty years. The sheriff chained town trouble makers to the tree until they sobered up.

jail tree — Who needs a jail when you’ve got a perfectly good tree?

Another historic site is the town’s first rail-side hotel, which is rumored to have a few extended stay guests. We walked around and peered through its many windows but didn’t spot any historic patrons.

Audio recordings and statues of historical figures accompany the destinations of the Wickenburg self-guided tour.

All in all, Wickenburg is rich in history and spirit activity according to the locals. Worthy of a day trip on your way to or from Phoenix in our opinion.

Vulture Mine, Wickenburg, Arizona

Now just a few miles south of town through the cacti-laden desert, is the Vulture Mine. Sadly, the old mine is only open one day a week to a small number of visitors. Side note: learn from us, if you are going to come through this area, plan ahead and get there early on a Saturday for this limited access tour for seeking potential tommy knockers.

We missed the tour, but peeked into the past on our own with a stop at the grounds of Vulture Mine.

However, we did walk around the property and observed the many decaying buildings and envisioned what the mine was like back in its operational days.

One of the visible buildings amid cacti and scrub brush.

One can easily imagine the harsh lifestyle these old miners and prospectors lived in. There’s plenty to see above ground from the entrance in this ghost mining camp.

The dilapidated buildings of the old Vulture Mine as seen from the edge of the property.

And it was a good reminder for me to appreciate whatever challenges I have compared to the difficult life these miners endured. Ghosts of the mine 1. Matt & Kristin 0. This time anyway.

Sedona, AZ

This land of pine tree strewn and irregularly stacked mountain mesas should be on everyone’s bucket list simply for the beauty alone. Although, many claim that Sedona’s red rocks hold mystical and spiritual powers, and that it is even a portal to other dimensions.

Red rocks and pines as far as you can see.

People seem to come here from all over the world looking for mental and spiritual encounters. During our 8ish mile hikes we looked high and low for the supernatural.

The red rocks and jagged edges certainly do look other worldly and enchanting.

In January we encountered dry desert, wet mud, icy rocks and snowy cliffs, along with blue skies.

We walked through desert landscape, trekked up muddy and icy trails, peered off the tops of icy bridge cliffs and spun to admire 360 degree views at Devil’s Bridge and Doe Mountain. It took our breath away. Standing roughly 2,000 feet high on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by nature’s endless beauty, it finally came to me. Our incredible planet speaks to us, if we but take the time to stop and listen.

I could stand here forever on the edge and just gaze, and breathe, and be.

If some want to call it mystical, spiritual or magnetic energy, that’s fine, however I think our planet simply communicates to us through the splendor all around us. Whatever reason you seek Sedona, I know you’ll find an awe inspiring landscape and if you lend a conscious ear, you’ll hear and feel the planet speak to you.

The climb was worth the panoramic views! #destinationtreeontheroad #redrocks #sedona #arizona #doemountain #panoramicview #hikeandbehappy #wanderlust #crosscountryroadtrip #coconinonationalforest

A video posted by Destination Tree (@destinationtree) on Jan 24, 2016 at 10:06am PST

We recommend you grab a beer, find a cliff, sit down and listen to nature.

Even Lucy can’t resist admiring the epic views from the cliff tops in Sedona.

P.S. You MUST drive through Oak Creek Canyon from Sedona to Flagstaff…it’s like a mini Grand Canyon as you weave through the bottom of the canyon and ascend up to the snowy top.

Horseshoe Café, Benson, AZ

An hour’s drive East of Tucson, Arizona is a teeny tiny old railroad layover town with a deliciously haunted café called The Horseshoe Café. According to the staff, one of the previous owners is an active spirit here and often peeks out through the windows of the second floor.

The artsy exterior welcomes you to The Horseshoe Cafe, and the heaping piles of home cooked food will likely have you leaving with a to-go box!

She is said to haunt the building and can be quite temperamental. Her favorite post mortem activity is to knock glasses off counters and toss coffee ground trays right out of the machine, as well as rearrange utensils for guests. Basically she likes to make a mess for employees to clean up and they aren’t shy about sharing their experiences with you. She must have it in for just the workers because I attempted on several occasions to have her knock stuff off the table next to me. Even directly asked her to, but to no avail.

When you’re not looking for ghosts, we highly recommend you try eating the food. It’s all made from scratch and quite delicious…and the portions are enormous!

Tombstone, AZ

Ahhh, another long time ghostly bucket list destination of mine. Plus, this town is packed with history! We loved it. We first checked out the original courthouse and gallows (I say original because the entire town burned to the ground back in its prime, save for a small handful of buildings and had to be entirely rebuilt).

The Tombstone Courthouse is a must-visit museum which gives an extensive history of the town’s famous events as well as memorabilia and photographs. There’s a lot of touristy stuff in Tombstone, but this place is authentic and fascinating.

The reconstructed gallows at the Tombstone Courthouse…

On a side note, while at the courthouse we learned that there were over 60 different types of barbed wire used by ranchers. Crazy! And that there is a monumental payload of silver about 500 feet away from the town that was buried in a mineshaft by an unexpected watery cave in, never to be dugout again. Even crazier.

Bet you never knew such a variety of barbed wire existed. Neither did we. Now, we’ll never look at barbed wire the same again. Seriously!

After the courthouse we strolled through town in the early morning and walked by the OK Corral where the famous shootout took place and is a rumored hot spot for paranormal activity.

The O.K. Corral…site of the famous American Wild West gunfight. The Courthouse Museum gives a full visual depiction of the world famous gunfight between outlaw cowboys and lawmen, which shockingly only lasted about 30 seconds.

We looked and listened our way through the area, but with plenty of normal activities like construction, tour guides in their western wear, tourists and tourists shops, we agreed that what we saw was all pretty normal rather than paranormal. Still, I believe that the entire town is full of spirits. It felt entirely possible that we wandered by invisible eyes as we strolled under porches and past alleyways.

Eventually we made it to the Birdcage Theater, claimed to be the most haunted place in town.

This place is a crazy, famously haunted theater alive with ghostly activity.

There is a welcoming woman who shared that the male spirits love to play with her hair. Kristin held on to her ponytail, and we took our time exploring while also taking pictures and videos. This place is a treasure trove of theater antiquities and has an old brothel/casino below.

Looking towards the theater stage, and up at the theater boxes, there seems to be no sight of any spirits among these historical artifacts…but take a closer look and see if we missed something…

The view from the stage of the Birdcage Theater…

The basement of The Birdcage Theater was the site of the poker room and brothel…unless Kristin (or that guy with a toothy smile on the left) is a ghost , we didn’t catch anything down here either.

We experienced nothing out of the ordinary and our photos turned up nothing strange. However, it definitely feels like a place that holds more than just historical objects.

During the afternoon this town is extremely touristy (wagon rides, fudge shops, souvenirs, etc), but at night, this place takes on a whole new feeling. Talk about exhilarating! I walked the empty streets by myself and highly recommend adding this place to your own bucket list, both for a day tour and a dark night walk.

Take a step back in time and walk the streets of Tombstone at dusk…it’ll send chills down your spine.

Believe it or not, this does not conclude our paranormal adventures in Arizona…stay tuned for highlights from the old 1880’s mining town, Bisbee. And for more of our non-paranormal (but still awesome) Arizona adventures, checkout the highlights of our Desert Drifting here and take an off-road adventure with us on The Apache Trail.

Cheers!

Matt

California: Alive with Mysteries

May 7, 2016 by Matt

Our Paranormal Quest continues! As we’ve been traveling across the country on our year-long road trip, we’ve made it a point to explore some unusual and historic locations. First, we shared mysterious locations spreading from the east to west coasts and now our paranormal quest continues through California…

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA

Let’s see, a six acre house, complete with hidden rooms, haunted stories, staircases to nowhere, séance chamber, more windows than the empire state building and continuous construction 24/7 by an army of construction workers directed by an incredibly paranoid, pint-sized widow for nearly 40 years. What else can I say? This place has it all.

I was giddy with excitement to check off this big paranormal bucket list locale.

One can’t help but feel that this place is a beacon for the unusual. We didn’t feel uncomfortable here, although our guide said he refuses to go in the basement anymore, with or without people. Much of the house is closed to the public so it’s hard to say if there are or aren’t spirits in the dark, off-limits, mysterious parts of the house. Unfortunately no photographs were allowed. (I am curious what we may have captured in a photo that we possibly didn’t see in person). Regardless there was much to take in, even without the cameras.

We walked through the old barn full of priceless Tiffany glass that had never been installed and climbed the easy glider staircases with 2-3 inch high steps that would occupy an entire room like a maze in order to traverse to the next floor (making it easy for a small, old woman to ascend). The staircases to nowhere, windows in the floor, ceiling and walls and constant construction were all an attempt by Mrs. Winchester to keep the millions of souls killed by Winchester guns at bay.

With the shear complexity and randomness of the house, there could have been ghosts all over, though we didn’t physically spot any on this visit. Overall, this is the most bizarre mansion you’ll ever experience. Definitely check out the large expanse of meticulously maintained landscaping all around the grounds. Haunted by the gardener? Perhaps not, but worth admiring nonetheless. We recommend going early on a weekday to avoid heavy crowds.

We explored the grounds before venturing into 110 rooms of the sprawling mansion.

Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, CA

ahwahnee-wnt-415 — We were so excited to head inside we didn’t snap an exterior shot, but this NPS photo captures the winter magic of the Ahwahnee Hotel. Photo credit: Christine Loberg, www.nps.gov

Deep within the iconic Yosemite Valley, surrounded by towering pines and magnanimous granite cliff walls stands a snow covered legend. The Ahwahnee Hotel. Looking like a log cabin accented version of Stephen King’s immaculately built hotel from the movie The Shining, this place does not disappoint the senses.

In the air is the scent of dueling hardwood toasty fireplaces mixed with gourmet cooking wafting from the kitchens. Patrons with spiced wine and hot chocolate are sitting in plush chairs fireside while listening to gentle sounds of a melody being played on the baby grand piano. Could you ask for a better warm place to hunker down out of the cold falling snow? No wonder this place still has spirits that linger around.

Find a cushy chair, nab a tasty drink and soak in the warmth from the fire and the melody from the baby grand at The Ahwahnee Hotel.

We gave ourselves a personal guided tour of the hotel and weren’t shy about searching through its many floors for the rumored spirit activity. After our scenic two person ghost hunt, the only feeling we both agreed we experienced while we were there was that of a warm welcome.

An Ahwahnee selfie. No ghosts, just an amazing, historic hotel in the iconic Yosemite Valley.

If the Ahwahnee Hotel does have a few extended stay guests still around they seem to be as welcoming as the environment there. After experiencing this place I can’t say I blame them for not wanting to leave. My only regret in coming here is that we didn’t stay for the weekend. We would love to go back. If you’re going to go here, stay for a day or two so you have ample time to roam the Hotel and grounds in an attempt to meet its permanent residents.

Joshua Tree National Park

Though we covered this location in detail in another blog, I had to mention this story-worthy backdrop simply because of the energy emanating from the very ground here. What seems like a lifeless void of scrub, cacti and Joshua trees, is actually a thriving ecosystem, perfectly adapted to such a harsh environment.

On two different occasions we drove through the immense and pitch-black park in the bitterly cold pre-dawn hours to catch a glimpse of some of the best starry skies in the country (followed by unreal sunrises). BUT, what I didn’t tell Kristin is that I also wanted to catch a glimpse of one of the many UFO’s claimed to dart around and even land out here.

No starry skies on this early morning due to the cloud cover, but it did make for a spectacular sunrise with the mountain and Joshua Tree silhouettes.

As stories have it, not only have these camera-shy, flying, escape artists been seen about the park, but there’s also stories of Native American spirits that roam the area. Regardless of these supposed encounters with the paranormal that I had hoped to see, we didn’t actually happen upon any of them while there. Whether real or a product of people’s overactive imaginations, I can’t say for certain, but we can say that this park is certainly full of beauty and energy that is just beckoning you to come search for its legends.

Another spectacular sunrise from one of the many climb-able rocks in the park.

That’s it for paranormal California…if you want to see more of our non-paranormal (but still amazing) adventures in California, check out the overview and pictures here. And stay tuned for our next batch of paranormal locations in Arizona!

Cheers!

Matt

Florida Orange Country

May 1, 2016 by Matt

Come for the sunshine, stay for the breeze,
This is the land with no worry of freeze.

No snow, nor sleet, or roads slick with ice,
Just warm sunny days with temps that are nice.

Watch a storm roll through every now and again,
Upsetting the goats, black roosters and hens.

Farm country this land is with pastures all filled,
The thunder and rain makes the cattle keepers thrilled.

‘Cuz the rain grows the grasses and feeds horses in masses,
Along with lazy cows and stubborn gray asses.

But it’s the orange trees and grove growers, happiest for the drops,
The Caribbean’s falling clouds provide for bountiful crops.

The sweet smelling blossoms waft all through the air,
Past high pointing noses inhaling with care.

These succulent orange groves dominate the land,
Giving shelter to birds whose colors are grand.

Egrets, spoonbills, herons and cranes,
Anhinga and osprey, nature’s fishing fighter planes.

Oh yes, there are fish here in Florida’s many lakes.
But that’s not all that lurks and makes gentle wakes.

There are gators and turtles and pythons out here,
Frogs and lizards and the occasional wading deer.

This land is alive and packed full of creatures,
Around us fly mosquitoes with their sharp, pointy features.

But Florida has a way of keeping them in check,
When the gulf’s stiff breeze pulls them away from my neck.

Along with the bugs, wind makes other stuff move,
Spanish moss slow dances to a faint sounding groove.

Back and forth it sways through the live oak branches,
That are dotted all around on cattle farm ranches.

These oak trees are giants, ancients from the past,
Whose numbers grow fewer though once were vast.

They tower over semis parked in their shade,
While local fruit pickers wait ‘til the sun fades.

To haul in their loads of citrusy gold,
And rest for the night waiting for tomorrow to unfold.

As one thing’s for certain in this lush tropical land,
Groves, swamps and cattle, go together hand in hand.

Thought it might seem odd orange country’s so diverse,
It’s a place every traveler should put on their list to traverse.

Cheers to nature and her gift to our senses,

Matt

Exploring Ancient Petroglyphs

April 8, 2016 by Matt

Come take a walk with me… to the Petroglyphs

What is it like to see the world’s oldest artwork up close and in person? In my opinion, it’s pretty damn awesome! It’s like an ancient ‘choose your own adventure’ novel, except rather than being written onto paper, they’re etched into stone.

It’s been said many times that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the world of pictographs (painted) and petroglyphs (carved) a picture can be worth just a single word. Putting those rock hewn pictures together however, leads me to imagine a riveting story.

On our year-long adventure, Kristin and I have journeyed to two different ancient sites. One site on a long, narrow winding road high up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and the other in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas.

This huge pictograph, named Hospital Rock, is painted on an enormous quartzite rock and is estimated to date back as far as 1350 A.D. Drive through hairpin turns and along sheer cliffs to a split rock partially protecting this incredible piece of history.

This huge petroglyph, in an area known as Indian Head in Big Bend National Park, is carved into the rock. It’s one of thousands of archeological sites preserved within the park and just a tiny glimpse into the remains of civilizations that existed in the area for over 10,000 years.

Both areas come with their own legends of humans who lived there thousands of years ago. And on both occasions after attempting to decipher them, I left with more questions than answers. But that’s half the fun, the other half is the trek…many of these sites require a bit of an Indiana Jones type spirit for exploration to get to. So, come take a walk with me to Indian Head…

Indian Head, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Along the Rio Grande, in Southwest Texas, we ventured to a remote location within Big Bend National Park simply called “Indian Head”. It is an ancient, mystical place that we found out about from a kind, local Native American woman (a fascinating lady to talk with who was also married to a shaman!). She approached us one morning while we were staying in Marfa, TX and asked about our Destination Tree RV Decals.

591 — The back of our RV displays our Destination Tree mantra…Live Life Inspired. And has initiated friendships and conversations all across the country, including Marfa, TX. Each and every day is a gift to be grateful for!

After telling her our story, she must have appreciated our ‘positive energy aura’ because she let us in on the secret location of this ancient spiritual site.

Indian Head is not the kind of place you’ll find on a map. The only way you’ll find it is if someone who knows about it is willing to tell you its location. So with no maps, no cell coverage, and with our 4X4 truck we followed her exact directions across the dry, arid desert, looking for the landscape reference points she described in order to find this ancient site where petroglyphs could be found.

03-01 911 — We may have questioned if we were going the right direction a few times, but we did end up in the right place and found Indian Head, an ancient archeological site.

Our Petroglyph Expedition

Wanting to get an early start before the scorching heat of the day, it was in the pre-dawn hours that we arrived.

Sunrise in the desert is a soul stirring experience ushering in a clean slate with a brand new day and a sense of peace rising over the mountains.

The contradiction of cold nights has us bundled up for the sunrise before we shed layers as the extreme heat of the day sets in at Big Bend National Park.

There are no parking areas or trail heads, just a bit of flat desert ground at the base of a series of small mountains that were pockmarked high up with what appeared to be caves. Caves, mind you, that a person would have to literally repel down to get into as climbing was not an option, unless you have some professional gear and skills. I really wish I knew what was up in them… or at least I think I do.

High up towards the top, in the middle, you can make out two of many dark looking caves that dotted the mountains.

From the moment that the dogs hopped out of the truck we could tell they were disturbed by this place. They love car rides. They love walks and hikes. Normally, they’d be bouncing from excitement. But we’ve never seen them act so fearful and antsy before.

With the sun creeping up over the horizon, we loaded up with water and hiked towards the back of the mountain range where the woman told us we could find the petroglyphs.

In a sort of unnerving way she had also informed us that there would be a veil of energy we would have to walk through on the edge of a dry riverbed where evil spirits had been cast down in the past by the natives who occupied this area. No problem, right!?

Dark spirits followed us along as we walked. Oh wait, that’s just Dobie and Lucy. However, do you know the number one way to keep any unfriendly spirits at bay? Protective Dobie Kisses. Does the trick every time. Whether you want ’em or not.

As we carried on, even I had to admit that it felt as though we were never alone out there. The vibe I was getting was one of being watched by unseen eyes. Well, after a half hour hike, we reached the site of the petroglyphs. There they were in all their glory! It was in this place, long ago in a time now forgotten, where many chapters of a far older race had been carved out on boulders of various immense sizes.

See?! I’m not alone…there is a shadow figure just across from me! Just kidding. The morning shadows make it difficult to see the petroglyphs, but the perspective helps show some scale for the size of some of these boulders!

Here’s a close up and better view of the same petroglyph.

On one particular rock, I read about a sky queen giving birth to mankind in the mountain area of the four corners of the earth.

And on another, the story told of two giant bubble headed snakes battling it out in the presence of excitedly dancing spectators. (Kristin says I have quite an imagination.) Take a look and decipher some of your own stories…

With so many artistic stories being told on the numerous earthen canvases, we could have been entertained for hours. However with the heat of the day approaching rapidly and two scared and tired dogs in tow, we decided to leave this amazing place of legend behind, head out through the spirit veil, and find our way back to society again for water and a break from the heat.

Climbing up and around and weaving in and out of the boulders in search of petroglyphs.

Fading Relics

Seeing some of the world’s oldest artwork up close and in person is truly a super cool experience. And it is the only way to see them. Pictures just don’t do the whole experience justice, although we tried. We plan to visit many more parts of the country where they can be found. (By the way, we learned that there are 26 states were these artistic relics are located…And those are just the ones where they’ve actually been discovered!)

Although sites like these are all around our country, time and human desecration is putting their staying power to the test. Sadly, for every one stony story we could still read on the boulders, there were many more that were no longer visible or legible. However, for those that are willing to look, there’s still an opportunity to seek these ancient stories.

So, if you’re feeling up to the challenge, choose a petroglyph site, put on your brown hat, grab your satchel & whip and go have fun using your imagination Indy style.

I’d love to hear your adventure story.

Cheers to the ancient and modern storytellers,

Matt

1. The Location

2. The Scent

3. The Fireplace

4. Drink of Choice

5. The Rooms

6. The Hallways & Elevators

7. The Ghosts

8. The Dining

9. The Elk

10. The History

U.S.S. Alabama

Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana

Myrtles Plantation, Francisville, Louisiana

The Stranahan House, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Coral Castle, FL

St. Augustine, FL

Marfa Mystery Lights, Marfa, TX

The Alamo, San Antonio, TX

Indian Head, Terlingua, TX

The Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee Arizona

Copper Queen Hotel, Bisbee Arizona

The Olive Oil Store

Historic Wickenburg, Arizona

Vulture Mine, Wickenburg, Arizona

Sedona, AZ

Horseshoe Café, Benson, AZ

Tombstone, AZ

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA

Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, CA

Joshua Tree National Park

Come take a walk with me… to the Petroglyphs

Indian Head, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Our Petroglyph Expedition

Fading Relics

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