The Lord of the Rings movies have always been interesting and fun to watch! I have always wanted to go into a hobbit house and see what they are really like. At the beginning of this summer I had the chance to go and see what the Hobbiton Movie Set is like in New Zealand.
View from the Shire of the Golden Dragon
My friend and I took a bus tour to the movie set. We took a Gray Line Tour and then switched buses to the Hobbiton buses. The bus was even hobbit. After arriving at the entry of the Hobbit movie set area. We took a walking tour through the Shire and on down to the Golden Dragon to finish off the tour.
Hobbiton bus
Me with a hobbit hole
Megan and I inside one hole
Me with Bilbo Baggins House
Not only is the movie set out in someones sheep pasture, it is surrounded by amazing landscapes of the beautiful New Zealand hills.
View of Bilbo Baggins hobbit hole Photo By Robin Moore
It was so interesting to actually be able to go and see the hobbit holes. I think that living in a rounded house would be awesome! Not only could I pretend to be a hobbit, but it would be unique to have a hobbit home.
The Moore You Travel–Your Next Adventure Is Waiting!
Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium was a great place to go to since I love animals and water! This is another place I went to while in New Zealand.
Bus that takes people to and from the aquarium
The aquarium in located in old sewage tanks underneath the road along the shoreline. Kelly Tarlton was an archeologist and diver who came up with this great idea of making such a large aquarium. If you ever plan on traveling to New Zealand, I recommend that you go to this aquarium. Not only is it an amazing experience it has a great history behind the building and aquarium itself.
I love water and swimming. Before I left for my trip to NZ, I decided that I wanted to do something crazy and super fun while I was there. With this being said, I went scuba diving with sharks at the aquarium. This was one of the most amazing experiences that I have done. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could.
In the tank I swam with four different types of sharks and a large stink ray. The four sharks I swam with are pictured below.
I was lucky enough have my relative video the entire experience! When I came home from the trip I showed the video to my family. My brother said, “Holy cow, I would never do that. You are crazy! Wasn’t it scary?” I have gotten this question a lot. I was kinda nervous when we first got into the water, but I was fine after I went under. It is so great getting to see the sharks, sting ray and fish up so close.
Before this trip I have been snorkeling at Discovery Cove in Florida- which was so much. While there I was able to be up close to the fish and a sting ray but the sharks were behind enclosed glass (so I didn’t get the rush like I did when I was in NZ swimming with the sharks).
Learning to use the scuba gear was really fun. At first it was weird having the goggles that cover my nose up. I usually never where goggles under water and when I do I never wear the ones that cover my nose. It bugged me for a while, and I wasn’t the only one.
The Moore You Travel–Your Next Adventure is Waiting!
One of the first few days that I was in New Zealand, my friend and I went to this place called Tree Adventures. This place is out in the treetops of the Woodhill forest. These trees and tall, straight and sturdy. While at this place we went through a variety of obstacle courses that are around and on the trees. Each level is higher and higher up. Since neither of us had ever done anything like this before, we decided to do the middle levels. We were still new, but wanted a challenge. If you are not good with heights this is not something for you.
At this you go from tree to tree doing different things. Some of the time you just walk on a wire while others you have to weave yourself through boards to get to the end.
At the end of each level there is this thing called a flying fox which is like a mini zipline. They were so much fun. After you get used to how they work it is so much fun. I was able to twist my hook so I spin in circles on the way down on one of the longer ones. The only bad part about spinning is that I didn’t land on my feet I landed in my butt and got a little dirty but oh well.
Being in New Zealand was quite an experience! We did so many things but still missed some of the sites. I would like to return there some day and visit the South Island.
The Moore You Travel–Your Next Adventure Is Waiting!
The life of this muggle has been entertained for many years by the Harry Potter series of books and movies. When my oldest brother was in the 4th grade, someone from our town wanted the Sorcerer’s Stone taken out of the school library. My mom wanted to be informed so she read the book and decided it was very appropriate for her kids. Our family started to read the books and went to see all the movies. My love of Harry Potter has left me with a few traveling memories! On a FCCLA trip to Los Angeles we knew that Deathly Hallows Part 2 was coming out. Some of our group attended the midnight premier. Not knowing we should be in costume, we were the minority. Most of the crowd was dressed as characters from the series. The large city iMax theater was over 10 times the size of a theater that I am used to going to.
I was lucky enough to be at Disney World in Orlando the summer when Diagon Alley first opened. Standing at Platform 9 ¾ and seeing the Hogwarts Express was fascinating to this small town girl. The Hogwarts Castle was so realistic. Hermoine, Ron and Harry (and a few ghosts) would talk to you from various areas.
Inside Hogwarts-on my way to the Headmaster’s office
At Ollivander’s, Harry bought his wand. I could have purchased a wand in this store at Diagon Alley.
“Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we will find the perfect match here somewhere—I wonder, now –yes, why not—unusual combination—holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.” Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls. Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried, “Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well, … how curious … how very curious …”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone By J.K. Rowling on page 84-85
Travel often brings a very commercialized aspect of life but this area of Disney World is the best. I want to go there again to see all of the shops that have opened.
The Moore You Travel—Your Next Adventure Is Waiting!!
Ever seen a fava bean? Know what it is? For me it was a new travel experience.
A fava bean is about 8-10 inches long, the beans inside the pod remind me of a big butter bean.
The one and only time I have seen such a thing was on a trip to California. We drove from Palo Alto to the coast (near San Francisco) and on the way we stopped at a road side stand which sold a variety of fruit and vegetables. The fava beans were the most unusual. The reminded me of giant peas that grow fresh in a garden. The outside could be peeled away and the inside is many sweet bean pods.
The experience of something like the fava bean is one of the reasons I really like to travel. I am from a very rural area. Rapid City, Spearfish, Gillette or Casper are local towns nearby and even though each offers their own culture, places to visit and people; I like to expand my background and travel farther. It is always a learning experience.
While in San Francisco we went to Fisherman’s Wharf. Wow! That was definitely an eye opening experience. Between the expansive seafood, the enormous ships, the thousands of people, I learned as a teenager that even though metropolitan places are fun to visit-I would not want to live in a highly populated place.
One of the fun things we did was ride on a Duck Tour boat! This is an amphibious vehicle which travels from the water to some of San Francisco’s historic streets and neighborhoods. The duck boats are really made from a World War II land and sea transportation vehicle. While splashing down into the water the guide gives everyone a duck call, so everyone is “quacking” with delight while enjoying the views.
These are just a few of the adventures waiting for me near home.
I am lucky to live in the Black Hills of Wyoming with all the landmarks and tourist activity not far away. Sundance is a beautiful town with abundant outdoor opportunities. Devils Tower is just 40 minutes away from my home. It is the nation’s first national monument and I hope no locals take it for granted. After a short drive on a curving, winding road you’re up on a flat plateau and all of the sudden there is this huge rock column sticking up out of the upcoming valley. It is magnificent, a true wonder of the world.
Other delights of WY Black Hills would be Cook Lake and Keyhole Reservoir. Cook Lake is a mountain lake with cold water, camping and hiking paths. Keyhole is a boating, swimming, cliff jumping and fishing paradise.
If you are a history buff, the hills offer a wide variety of attractions. Custer’s Expedition went through the area. I have seen his marker on top Inyan Kara Mountain. The outlaw Harry Longabaugh, otherwise known as the Sundance Kid was infamous as he was captured and stayed in jail in the town of Sundance.
Everyone should see Mt. Rushmore at least once in their life. As you come in from the parking lot every state flag is flying to form a tunnel which leads the eye to the historic faces- Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. It is amazing that someone could actually carve that 87 years ago. The walking path gives different views of the faces and is really pretty interesting. When I was littler we camped a lot by Hill City and visited Mt. Rushmore often.
Driving the Needles Highway or Ironridge road is just fascinating. Great stops along the way would be Legion Lake, Sylvan Lake and Harney Peak. On a clear day from the top of Harney Peak a hiker can see Inyan Kara Mountain which is just 10 miles from my house. Just south of this area is Crazy Horse Memorial. The blasting isn’t done but if you are interested in native art, culture and stories it would be a place to visit.
Further south is Custer State Park. The park at Custer is South Dakota’s largest and first state park. The park is named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. It covers over 71,000 acres which is tough terrain and home to a variety of wild animals. Buffalo (bison) and donkeys are common along the roadways.
Wind Cave National Park or Jewel Cave are fascinating. It is a whole different experience than hiking or climbing. Caves are cooler, sometimes wet. Spelunking is crawling and fitting through tight spaces. It usually requires head gear with a flashlight. Jewel Cave has a rock with a hole that a person actually has to fit through before they can go on the spelunking tours. If you live near a cave and haven’t visited, you need to!
As you can see, I love the Black Hills area. Being within driving distance to so many places makes day trips or camping excursions an easy adventure for both young and old.
The Moore You Travel—Your Next Adventure Is Waiting!
The pictures and the writing brought back so many memories of being at Sanibel Island off Florida on the Gulf Coast. I am not an experienced beachcomber. Walking on the beach which is shells, not sand, to find shells was very exciting for me. I wish I had read this blog before I went. Two of her menu items are shelling tips and seashell identification. While on the beach, I saw various small sea life creatures. If I had thought to look for a blog, maybe I could have identified some of those.
I have been to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. As a young girl it was always fun to look for shells. After I graduated high school, my mom and I went to Sanibel Island because it was supposed to be famous for its shells. I had no idea how cool it was really going to be. The sand was covered in shells. Walking barefoot hurt. When I was in the water, I felt the shells hitting my legs as the waves came in.
Photo by Robin Moore
We stayed at the West Wind Inn. When we arrived at the hotel along the beach, I was given a sheet telling me the tide times and when the best shelling opportunities were. We just had to walk beyond the pool and over the sand dunes and we were at the beach.
The motel also gives every guest a shell collecting bag. I never thought just by staying at a motel I would get a shell collecting bag. I filled it numerous times. When picking up shells, it is illegal to keep one that still has a living thing inside. You really have to look at them to make sure it is legal.
Photo by Robin Moore
I knew I was going to put some of my shells in jars, so I kept some sand from the Gulf Coast.
Shells I collected. Photo by Robin Moore
It had many flex of gray and black, I am assuming it was from the oil spill a few years ago. The beach was not as bright as when I had been on the beach in California.
Photo by Robin Moore
Another thing I was shocked to see was turtle protected nesting areas. Areas were marked with signs and had fenced edges. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of the turtles.
Photo by Robin Moore
I would recommend if you plan a vacation for specific event (like shelling) do go in search of a blog to find out more information for your desired topic. It may give you some great ideas on how to make your adventure more appealing.
The Moore You Travel—Your Next Adventure is Waiting!
I have been within 3 feet of a bull buffalo. Lucky for my brother and I, we were on a rock that was 4-5 feet high. Watching elk, we were clueless to the bison who slowly strutted next to us. My mom was not clueless but was too worried (back on the road) that saying or doing something would irritate him. So we just stood silent and got a few pictures up close and personal.
That same trip to Yellowstone National Park, we watched a grizzly bear walk under bridge and into a campground scavenging for food. It walked down a hill following a small creek, overturning rocks and branches as s/he walked. We stood on the bridge and it walked right under us through a campground into the brush of a river. My brother has a good eye for wildlife. He noticed this bear and we just sat in the car until we thought we were safe to get out.
Lamar Valley is a great place to see buffalo, coyotes and elk. Elk are a regular in the town of Mammoth. The elk actually lie around on the grass of this small town that is within the park. On the way to the valley it is very likely that visitors will see big horn sheep. There are usually six to twelve on a little rock cropping close to the road. Moose are a bit harder to see as they bed down in tall brush. Once when camping near the northeast entrance, we saw a moose cow and her calf in a road ditch daily. I have seen just about all the wildlife in Yellowstone except for wolves. Someday I will go when it is colder to have that opportunity.
The canyons, waterfalls, and the drive to Old Faithful are just beautiful. There are so many hikes, short and long, to take. Even the mud pots at Norris and at the north end of the park are interesting. A person interested in science could learn a lot about geography at one of the visitor centers. Quake Lake is another place to visit. There is a section there that the old road just ends because of the earth quake that changed some of the landscape in the area. A person could spend weeks at Yellowstone.
Most people are lucky to see this national park once in a lifetime. I have already been there numerous times and I am only 20 years old. This is one of my favorite places to visit. Learn more about Yellowstone from the video here.
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Grand Teton National Park is in northwestern Wyoming. The major peaks of the Teton Range is 40 miles long. This park is named after its highest peak called Grand Teton. This name originated from French trappers in the early 19 century. Les trios tetons which means the three teats was later shortened to Tetons. 13,775 feet is the Grand Teton highest point. Some of the rocks in the park are the oldest found in any U.S. national park- they have been dated at 2.7 billion years.
This park is almost a pristine ecosystem. The same flowers and animals have been in this area since prehistoric times and can still be found there. There are more than 1000 species of plants, dozens of mammals, 300 species of birds, more than a dozen fish and a few reptiles. In the years past there have been some changes in the ecosystem which needs to be taken care of. Efforts have been made to protect fish species and the threatened whitebark pine.
Within the park there are numerous lakes. The largest lake is Jackson Lake, it is 15 miles long. There are also streams that vary in length and the upper most part of the Snake River located in the park.
Old barn with Tetons in the distance. Photo by Robin Moore
View from along side the road. Photo by Robin Moore
Big storm moving in. Photo by Robin Moore
The Snake River going through the park. Photo by Robin Moore
Have you ever been river rafting? My family ended up going on a scenic rafting trip along the Snake River (for my father’s sake). The views of the Tetons were amazing. The ride was nice and slow. The tour guide had some interesting stories to tell about the history of the area. He also had some animal furs to show us and everyone on the raft had to guess what animal fur they were.
My family has always camped in a tent. I think this is the better way of camping. Since I can remember my parents have always slept on an air mattress and as we got older my brothers got air mattresses as well. I was the lucky one (youngest) and just slept with a sleeping bag on the ground. Some people believe that staying in a furnished cabin is camping but I don’t. From my camping experiences, the one thing I will remember forever is the park rangers chasing a bear out of a campground we were staying at. That night my mom slept in the car when the rest of us slept in the tent.
I also love taking pictures- there were so many to choose from to share, but the four I posted seem to show the beauty of the Tetons.
The Moore You Travel—Your Next Adventure is Waiting for You!
Rocky Mountain National park is located in Colorado and is one of the most popular parks in the United States. My family and I took a short trip to Rocky Mountain National Park one summer. We love going to different places and being outdoors.
Just a few facts:
– The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3000 miles from British Columbia to New Mexico
– The Rocky Mountains were formed over 55 million years ago
– Lots of the mountain range is protected by public parks and forest service land
– The elevations inside Rocky Mountain National Park range from 8,000 feet in the valleys to 14,259 feet at the top of the highest point in the park which is Longs Peak.
– The Continental Divide (flow of water between the Pacific ocean and Atlantic ocean) runs through the park
There are so many trails and outdoor things to go do and look at. Rocky Mountain National park has over 30 walkable trails (over 300 miles total), 60 mammals, 280 species of birds, 900 plants, and 476 miles of streams or creeks. If you enjoy the great outdoors, I recommend that you go visit Rocky Mountain National Park.
Trail Ridge road is something everyone needs to see. It is a national scenic byway that goes along the top of the mountains. The elevation at the pass is over 12,000 feet. The geology is different because drivers are above the tree line and in the tundra area. Plants are different, grasses are different and it was chilly in July. The views are magnificent, it is a very beautiful drive.
View from Trail Ridge road. Photo by Robin Moore
In the valley along the lower elevation of Trail Ridge road. Photo by Robin Moore
Moose sitings were close by and often on the road. Photo by Robin Moore
There are 585 drive in campsites and 200 backcountry campsites located in the park. Our campground had no trees because of pine beetles. All the trees had been chopped down. Every day or night we were able to drive down the road a ways to see the moose (bulls, cows, and calves). People didn’t even need a spotting scope or binoculars, they were close to the road and in the open.
Yes, there are plenty of upscale places to visit near Rocky Mountain National Park. I am not interested in those types of things, I would rather be going on a hike and seeing wildlife. We walked many trails, saw lakes, mountain peaks, and even snow! It was a great trip.
To find more information about Rocky Mountain National Park click here. For the Rocky Mountain National Park travel and exploring website click here.
The Moore You Travel—Your Next Adventure is Waiting!
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