New Mexico holds many secrets just waiting to be discovered. While Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos have all gathered their share of tourists through the years, the real secrets are revealed a little further off the grid. A stay in Farmington can provide opportunities to visit incredible archeological ruins that are intact and well-preserved for thousands of years.

Doorways at Chaco Canyon

Northwestern New Mexico, part of the Colorado Plateau in the Four Corners Region, has been home to people for at least 12,000 years. Evidence shows that the Anasazi, ancestors to the Pueblo Indians, lived on the land as early as A.D. 1. Their settlements were connected by an amazing system of roads. Today, visitors can travel to the Chaco Canyon, Aztec ruins, and Salmon ruins.

At the Salmon Ruins Heritage Park, the Salmon Ruins were constructed between 1088 and 1090 A.D. Stones were cut to fit the structure, rather than just stacked. Some stone appears to have been hauled from four miles away. Trees were carried from fifty miles away. The masonry changes through the years to indicate what was available and what was important to the occupants. At the Salmon Ruins, visitors can take a self-guided tour around the actual ruins. In a separate area, there are replicas of buildings including a Wild West Trading Post, a Navajo sweat lodge, hogans, a Jicarilla Apache wickiup, and a Ute tipi.

It is a washboard dirt road drive to Chaco Culture National Historic Park, but well worth it to see the Pueblo Bonito and the great Kiva of Chetro Ketl. The National Park Service has maintained a visitor center here since 1959. The sheer size of the ruins is awe-inspiring, with most of the structures containing more than 200 rooms. The construction itself is also amazing, as everything lines up perfectly and symmetrically. Not to mention the fact that so much of it is still standing so many years later.

A walk through the Aztec Ruins National Monument north of Farmington takes visitors exploring through rooms built centuries ago. At the end of the half-mile walk, a reconstructed Great Kiva allows an experience what it would be like to be in the social and religious center of the community. These ruins are not Aztec, as the name would imply. They are Pueblo, but were mistakenly thought to be Aztec by early settlers and the name stuck.

While these three destinations are great examples of archeology, there is deep history all throughout the Four Corners Region. New Mexico is called the “Land of Enchantment” for a reason. After you leave, it beckons you back.

For more information contact: www.salmonruins.com, www.nps.gov/chcu, www.nps.gov/azru, www.farmingtonnm.org

I continue to go out and see the world. I have two great posts coming up about my winter trip to Yellowstone with the Ken Burns crew, and following the Flavour Trail in Quebec. I have plenty of travel scheduled on the calendar.

Closer to home, I have started writing the Phoenix Farmer’s Market column for Examiner. com. This allows me to explore my love for food and food trends such as sustainable agriculture, organic gardening, locavores, and supporting regional economies.

Many people would be surprised at how much we grow in the Valley of the Sun. This weekend, I saw apples, pears, many types of citrus, squash, potatoes, carrots, radishes, rutabagas, turnips, tomatoes, multiple types of lettuces, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, baked goods, jams and jellies, cheeses, olives, nuts, granola, and organic meats and poultry.  Wine tasting and coffee roasted on-the-spot provided interesting opportunities as well. I am beginning to believe that we can find most of the food we need each week at the farmer’s market, supporting our local economies, reducing carbon footprints, and eating well.

My Examiner column is http://www.examiner.com/x-4203-Phoenix-Farmers-Markets-Examiner. Find more information on Arizona Farmer’s Markets at: http://www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com/ and http://www.foodconnect.org/phoenixmarket/.

Blue Bell Creameries, based in Brenham, Texas, opened in 1907. Visitors can take a guided tour on any weekday through the facility to watch how some of their favorite flavors get created. The day I was there I had the opportunity to watch them dump the cookies into the Cookies ‘n Cream ice cream. The tours last about 45 minutes and include a short video, a trip to an overlook to watch the workers mix the flavors and pack them into cartons, and, of course, a big finish with a scoop of ice cream. While Homemade Vanilla is the #1 bestseller throughout the country, other flavors rate high on the list depending on the region of the country or the time of year. Banana Pudding is more popular in the South, and Peppermint is requested most often around the winter holidays.

If you are in the area, stop in and visit. If you aren’t in the area, but are craving your favorite flavors, Blue Bell will ship Federal Express for next day delivery.

Blue Bell Creameries

1101 South Blue Bell Road
Brenham, Texas 77833

www.bluebell.com

While I was away on a press trip, at dinner with a long table full of writers, I received the following message from the editors at Red Coyote Press:

Wine grapes grow nearly everywhere, but they don’t all produce great wines. At the 4 JG’s Vineyards in Colts Neck, New Jersey (yes, you read it right – New Jersey) they are making wines that are competing successfully against California wines. While their wines consistently won awards in New Jersey Wine competitions, they also won in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the Vino Challenge International Wine Competition, the American Wine Society National Competition, and the Los Angeles County Fair World of Wines Competition. Besides offering wines for sale, the winery also provides seminars and tastings. Offerings include Chamboursin Riserva, Cabernet Franc, Vignole, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Monmouth Blush, Seyval Blanc and Big Brook White. Appointments for tastings can be made by calling 908-930-8066.

http://www.4jgswinery.com/

If you are looking for charm, atmosphere, and outstanding food, head to La Dolce Vita Ristorante in the Heritage Square section of Oxnard, California. Oxnard is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles and provides crashing waves on the beach, plenty of fresh market produce and sunshine. The restaurant offers fantastic Mediterranean fusion cuisine including Grilled Vegetable Ravioli, Seafood Risotto, and Linguine a la Bolognese. Italian Pot Roast and Gorgonzola stuffed pork loin also make an appearance. All if these are partnered with excellent wines. The building is located in Oxnard’s Heritage Square, an area of town committed to preserving the historical and architectural uniqueness of turn-of-the-century Oxnard. The restaurant was originally built in 1901 and still has the original drawstring windows. The main floor serves as a restaurant. Upstairs provides a setting for larger groups with areas for dining, dancing, and a buffet. The lower level cocktail lounge has cozy leather couches surrounding a fireplace near a stage for entertainment and a large TV for sporting events. The outdoor patio provides a great place to enjoy the weather. Saturday night concerts in the Square keep the place hopping. Owner and Executive Chef Michelle Kenney recently released a cookbook called “La Dolce Vita – Recipes for Living the Sweet Life.” She also provides cooking classes. Go and enjoy a depth of flavors and experiences!

http://www.ladolcevitadimare.com/

http://www.oxnardtourism.com/

When I told people I would be visiting Door County, Wisconsin, nearly everyone who had ever been to Door County said that I should go to Wilson’s in Ephraim for ice cream. Wilson’s is an old-fashioned soda fountain shop where they also brew their own ice cream. They have been a landmark in Door County since Oscar and Mattie Wilson opened the shop in 1906. It doesn’t need to be Sunday to go for a Sundae Drive in Door County. You can dine in on a burger or enjoy a cone while sitting on the porch gazing at the water.

http://www.wilsonsicecream.com/main.htm

http://www.doorcounty.com/

San Francisco presents the world with a multitude of activities from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the most popular activities takes no money and very little effort. Watching the sea lions at Pier 39  captivates young and old. The sea lions, or sea-lebrities, have been hanging out at Pier 39 since 1990, shortly after the 1989 earthquake. They sleep on the docks, having taken over the pier from the boatowners. They nudge each other around on the docks and bark at one another, causing gales of laughter from the crowd. It is illegal to feed or taunt the sea lions. However, the seagulls will be happy to disarm you of your popcorn, cotton candy, or ice cream cone. During the winter, the sea lion populaton can increase to 900. During the summer the sea lions migrate to the Channel Islands. While Pier 39 has many shops and attractions, the sea lions are what you will remember.

http://www.pier39.com

http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/

This is the Salt Water Beach Cafe on the newly renovated boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It used to be a Howard Johnsons. Now it is an interesting landmark placed near The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, The Paramount Theatre, Madame Marie’s, Casino Pier, and The Stone Pony, where legends Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi have appeared. While it is called a Cafe, this interesting landmark serves gourmet fare. My meal included petite heirloom tomato and house-made mozzerella, ancho-chili spice shrimp, NJ picked strawberry salad, beer braised short ribs (to die for) and white chocolate tart. The ribs were so outstanding that every time I have ribs, for the rest of my life, I will think back to that moment when I ate them here. On top of all of that, there is the view of a fine piece of Jersey Shore.

 http://www.saltwaterbeachcafenj.com/

http://www.state.nj.us/travel/

I recently bought a hat. I wanted a hat that would smush into my suitcase, but not look too ridiculous and smush my hair, and would protect my ears, nose, and neck from the sun. I looked at online websites and finally picked out a hat that I liked. Then I read the specs on the hat. The site stated the hat had Insect Shield Insect Repellant protection. I had never heard of Insect Shield before and I was skeptical. The site claimed the hat would repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other biting insects. I grew up in Minnesota, land of mosquitoes and ticks, and didn’t really believe that a hat could repel bugs. But I liked the hat and ordered it anyway. Before it arrived I was already having regrets. What if the hat smelled like bug repellant and my whole suitcase would smell that way? What if whatever made it repel pests also made it stiff and scratchy and itchy? When it arrive, I opened the package carefully. I sniffed it – it just smelled like new hat. I felt it – it just felt like a cotton poly blend. So I took it along. On my trip I visited beekeepers and strolled through vineyards and went kayaking and went to the beach. I don’t remember any bugs except for one night when I was dining outdoors — without my hat.

http://www.insectshield.com/