It is said that “A picture paints a thousand words,” and it does. But pictures can’t capture the reality of seeing things for yourself, and I’m wondering how many words that’s worth!
Hello, everyone! I’m Lynne Lanning, and I am bursting at the seams to share my recent journey with you. My husband and I recently returned from a 39-day trip to the Western US. 8000 miles by car, and I have no idea how far on a cruise to Alaska. For my husband, (a history buff), it was fun and informative, but for me, it was all those things plus research.
I have at least 100 stories going around in my head right now, after all the amazing sights we saw. I brought home loads of pictures to remind me of the grandeur, and also stacks of books, brochures, and maps that will aid me in future stories.
Standing in the place where our ancestors stood gave me chills. I stood in wagon ruts on the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail. I witnessed intimidating, rugged terrain they once called home. I stood in awe at sights of the sun setting behind majestic mountains that they once gazed upon.
It didn’t take me long to appreciate their sacrifices. As soon as I stepped out of my air-conditioned car, I appreciated them, and by the time I huffed and puffed my way up a slight incline, I knew they were my heroes! Those people were tough, strong, and determined. Even in my younger days, I’m not sure I would have made it past the first mountain chain, through the first desert, or crossing the first river.
I could go on for days telling you about it, but there is nothing like seeing it for yourself. This nation has more of God’s amazing creation than you could explore in a lifetime, and I am honored that I was able to see as much as I did. From painted mountains to waterfalls, deep canyons to majestic mountains, wildlife to prairies filled with wildflowers…all breathtaking. I just hope I can do it justice in my writing.
One of the interesting places I visited was Mesa Verde National Park – the only US National Park dedicated to a culture of people instead of a natural wonder. I have researched this park and its native people who disappeared for unknown reasons, leaving behind unbelievable archaeological treasures.
I recently wrote a novel, Muriel Mesa Verde Bride, that takes place at Mesa Verde, which will be released on October 31st. It was exhilarating to imagine my characters walking right along with me on those paths. The story is filled with suspense and gets a bit darker than my normal stories, but has such a sweet romance that blossomed under a dark, dangerous cloud. If you like Historical Romantic Suspense, I hope you will pre-order your copy today. Muriel, Mesa Verde Bride, in the National Park Bride Series.
In case you aren’t familiar with me, let me share that I also write lighthearted Historical Romance filled with grins and giggles. My best one yet was just released on October 6th, 2025 – Loving An Untamed Wonder – Western Whirlwinds – Mischief, Mayhem & Mishaps.
Enjoy a good chuckle when this Pinkerton Agent’s ‘assignment’ arrives, in a power packed parcel of sweet innocence wrapped in red hair and full of spirit – along with mischief, mayhem and mishaps. His life was about to change forever, if she didn’t end up being the death of them.
For a chance to win an ebook of this sweet story guaranteed to make you smile … perhaps even laugh, tell me about the most wonderful place you have ever visited.
If you’re like me, you probably have more than one.
Thanks for visiting with me today!
Lynne Lanning has such an effortless way of evoking emotion from her readers. Her characters are so realistic that the reader can feel their pain during trials and their joy during triumphs. Each story tells of true bonds of love and loyalty, mixed with tough times and decisions, with a twist of humor and sometimes devastation…the same is true in life. With a blend of her own family members and heritage along with lots of fiction, it’s hard to tell where reality stops and fantasy begins.
Find out more about Lynn online here.
The most wonderful place I’ve ever visited was Hawai’i. We went to Oahu and the Big Island, and we had a wonderful time, saw beautiful sites, and it was bliss. We’ve also had wonderful trips to Spain, Mexico, and here in the USA.
You’re book sounds lovely.
Sorry Denise…I commented instead of hitting reply! LOL! My comment should be close by for you to see. So glad you have seen so many wonderful places.
Hawaii sounds like paradise! My son lived there for a while, but I’ve never been. Perhaps one day. Spain is somewhere I have thought about somewhat. Mexico has some wonderful destinations, at least from the cruise ship ports. Belize is somewhere I would like to go also. I hear they have magnificent waterfalls. But I’m telling you, it would take a few lifetimes just to see all the breath-taking sights right here in the US! Keep traveling and keep your camera handy!
Hi, Lynne. It’s good to see you here. I love to travel and have been to all 50 states and about 45 other countries. I’ve enjoyed so many wonderful places, but one that stands out is Peru with Manchu Picchu, the Amazon rainforest, and the Nazca Plains with its geoglyphs etched into the desert since BC.
Hi Janice! Glad you could join us. With that much travel, I’m sure you have plenty of stories to tell! My experiences pale in comparison. I still haven’t made it to all 50 states! Hawaii and New England states are still on my list. I love the adventures you share on your blog.
Spent 18 days in Alaska and I wish we could go back every year. Everyone should go at least once.
Now that’s something I would love to do! Even though I got to see and enjoy some of Alaska, there just wasn’t enough time at each port. I like to linger and take my time. If I get to go again, I will have a better idea of what kind of cruise and excursions to look for. And you’re right…everyone should go at least once. I’d love to hear more about what you did while there.
I love visiting the mountains in North Carolina. Although I grew up in the western part of the state,I live in the eastern part now. I don’t make it to the mountains often. I love viewing the beautiful scenes on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and visiting the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock.
Well, hello neighbor! I live in the gorgeous foothills of NC! Sadly, some of our favorite weekend spots are no longer standing…the entire landscape has shifted due to Helene (Sept 26, 2024). It ripped at my heart to see the damage.
Have you visited Mabry Mill? Puckett’s Cabin? I hope to go there later this month. They used to have the live exhibits during October, and I hope they still do. In fact, Mabry Mill is on the cover of my book – A Dream for Caroline – releasing in Jan 2026.
Maybe one day I’ll see you at Dan’l Boone Inn for breakfast!
thanks for coming today and sharing your adventures. yes I am like you I have more than one place. the Cherokee Trail was so awesome. even our two kiddos loved it. the Grand Canyon up north in the woods was so pretty and wonderful.
To me, everything out West is awesome and wonderful! But then there are some amazing sights here in the East also. As I agreed about Alaska…everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once. Of course, I wasn’t brave enough to take a burro ride to the bottom, or a helicopter ride for the arial view. The sight from the rim was plenty dizzying and breath-taking enough!
The Cherokee Trail? Is that the same as The Trail of Tears? That is one I would be very interested in. I’m reading The Cherokees of the Smoky Mountains by Horace Kephart today. I love to include people in my stories who have suffered injustice. I guess it’s my way of delivering a bit of history in works of fiction.
So glad your kids were able to see and enjoy the great outdoors!
The most wonderful place I’ve ever visited was Colorado. My parents and I spent two days horseback riding in the mountains around Pagosa Springs, then crossed the Continental Divide to Colorado Springs, where we visited the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Rockledge Ranch, the Ghost Town Museum and the Flying W Wranglers Ranch. It was amazing and I will never forget it.
That sounds AMAZING! I hope those memories stay with you forever. High in the mountains of Colorado is like no other place on earth. I was blessed to have an extended, leisurely stay there, years ago. Our 2 sons, and 1 of our daughters lived there for a while. One of our sons lived in a tiny, old town (if you could even call it a town), on top of a mountain near the Great Divide, named Nederland. It was like a trip back in time! And it was a real place, not a reconstructed for tourists type place. People really functioned there with businesses in OLD wooden buildings, doors standing open, a wooden boardwalk as a sidewalk, and a dirt road that was impassable to cars.
On the outskirts of the tiny town was a ranch that took people on horseback trail rides across the Great Divide. I wonder if you and I walked in each other’s footsteps?
I visited Fort Laramie in Wyoming when I was in 6th grade. It was so awesome. Other places I have visited that I really enjoyed was the Plymouth Plantation, Old Ironside, the Mayflower, and Bunker Hill. They all left a lasting impression on me. I also had a chance to visit the Salem Witch Museum. I cried. I will never be able to forget things I saw there.
Hi Barbara! Just between you and me, I told my family that if I ever come up missing, they can look for me in Wyoming, somewhere around Cody. If I had to describe it with one word, it would be “Wild”. Okay, “Wonderful” would be a close second. I love the laid-back atmosphere surrounded by gorgeous scenery. Bison walking up the road like they belonged there! Wild and Wonderful indeed!
As for your other favorites, they sound like New England, perhaps? That’s my goal for next fall, and if you would be so kind, I’d love to have your list of must-see places. They sound full of such important history that I don’t want to miss. As I replied in another post, I love to write about people who were stricken by injustice. The Salem Witch Museum would certainly be that.
Between my husband and I both enjoying studying the Civil War, me loving plantations, and him loving ships and battlegrounds, this sounds like an extended trip. I didn’t realize there was so much up there to see. Send me your recommendations and I will start planning a trip!
Having been blessed with seeing many awesome places, one of my most favorite places to see is Glacier National Park. Two other national parks run a close second: Yellowstone National Park and Carlsbad Caves National Park (New Mexico). Having enjoyed traveling to other international places, I agree, we are blessed with such a beautiful and inspiring country (so many great places to see!).
I can’t believe I missed Carlsbad! Thanks for the reminder, Molly! I will put that on my list!
Of all the National Parks, Glacier is also my favorite. I remember driving through on the Road to the Sun, oohing and ahhing at everything, then catching a glimpse of the sights behind us through my rearview mirror. I gasped and told my husband that we had to turn around at the end of the road and go back through again, seeing everything from the opposite direction! It brought out a child-like excitement in me that was unlike anything I’ve experienced in years! It also brought the protective daddy out in my husband, with him yelling every time I jumped out of the car with my camera, “Don’t get too close to the edge!” LOL!
We even saw a wedding taking place there! And I don’t mean up on a grassy plain! I have no idea how those few people got down to the place they were at! But it was beautiful and very unique, with her formal dress and veil fluttering in the breeze.
Yellowstone was also amazing in a totally different way with all it’s geysers and other wonders. Everyone needs to have these on their ‘must-see’ list.
I am not much of a traveler. I like to travel in the books I read. Even though some of them are make believe I have enjoyed every one of them.
Oh Sharon! You have just brought up something very important…the power of reading. Books take us to places we can’t go, and a well-written story can make you feel like you’ve been there. Even if the book is fictional, if the scene is described, you can see it in your imagination.
I have been blessed to take 3 extended, leisurely trips out west, and another one years earlier that was almost an emergency that we also ended up having some fun on.
My husband is declining with Parkinsons and I have so many rods, screws, and pins in me from surgeries, I’m not in the best shape. We gave up on an Alaska trip years ago…we knew we didn’t feel well enough to travel that far, (and we don’t fly, so it would be one heck of a drive from NC). We didn’t think we would ever see my beloved west again.
BUT sometimes things have a way of working out differently…
My son lives in Seattle and at 42 years old, we had given up on him ever getting married. Well, to make a long story short, he got married August 23rd, and this momma bear was determined to be there! We prayed, and had other people praying that my husband would hold up well on the trip, and he did.
Meanwhile, my daughter who lives close to me, and can talk anyone into anything, was determined for us to go on an Alaskan cruise, because we would be right there at the port anyway. Well, it did make sense, so we booked the cruise! We knew it was our last chance. It was now or never. And I’m so glad we did.
We are homebodies. We don’t leave the farm often, but we made it worthwhile when we did.
I visited Mesa Verde National Park in my mind for months before I ever saw it with my own eyes. I researched it for my Muriel, National Park Brides book, so much, that when I actually got there, it was like I had been there before…all because of the descriptive power in the books I had read. Books can take you anywhere you want to go, even to different eras in time.
My life is full of adventures, most of them taken from the comfort of my couch.
Recently I spent 2 weeks in Florida. One in Orlando area (nope, no Disney parks lol) and one on North Captiva Island with my sister and her boyfriend. She lives and works on the island and I love it there.
I was home for exactly 1 week and left for the Smoky Mountains! Pigeon Forge and Gaitlainburg were a nightmare when we got there on Sunday afternoon. Took us 2 hours to get through Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg and back!!! No we didn’t get out of the car. No parking in Gatlinburg. Anyway, I love the mountains. All the wildlife we saw were wild turkeys of all things. Well, until we were coming back from NC through the Smokys heading north to home. We saw some elk on the side of the road grazing in the late afternoon, early evening. No bears to be seen by us but always the next day people were seeing them where we had been. lol Oh well….. The views were breathtaking!!!!!!!!!
An island paradise! How wonderful! And to think you have a sister that you can visit in such a place. That’s great! I would love that for an occasional vacation, but my heart is in the mountains where the rest of your trip took you.
In one of my previous comments, I told about the laid-back atmosphere in the mountains, but that certainly wasn’t Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg! I don’t like crowded areas and fighting for a parking space. I wouldn’t have stopped the car either if it hadn’t been for my husband wanting to stop at a knife store.
The Great Smokey Mountains are gorgeous. Seeing the elk was a real bonus! I have only seen bears twice in my life in the NC mountains. Plenty of deer, and never any elk, so I am envious!
Did you get the chance to go to Cades Cove? If not, next time you need to go through there. It’s like a step back in time. Beautiful!
I loved all of the history in Savannah, but I also love going to the mountains!! Georgia’s Providence Canyon is a great place, too!!
Savannah is gorgeous! I love all the huge old homes! I’ve only been there once, but we usually go to Charleston, SC, which is much closer to us, and is almost identical to Savannah. The one time we went to Savannah, wouldn’t you know it was the worst time of year???? St. Patrick’s Day was coming up, and I never realized Savannah is the second city in the nation when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! We did get a few days there before the crowds started rolling in.
And Trudy, I want to thank you for putting another destination on my list! I’ve never heard of Providence Canyon. With Georgia not being far from me, I will have to check it out.
I haven’t traveled much at all, I’m more of a homebody. I prefer to travel through books, they can take me everywhere I want and even to magical places that aren’t real.
I have been blessed with a little bit of travel to some amazing places, but I am really a homebody. When our kids were little, we went to the coast or to the mountains, camping and having a great time, mostly in NC, SC, and TN, a couple of times every summer. Now, we are lucky to leave the farm every four years for extended trips, and twice a year (May and Oct) for my husband to fish at the coast.
Reading a good book is where I get most of my adventures, and I am very satisfied with that. A well-written book can get your heart pumping during scenes that you feel you’re right there watching. I love it!
Scroll back to my (long) post to Sharon J about the importance of books. I LOVE my armchair adventures!
Every few nights, I am taking off to a new destination, and don’t have to pack a thing! The best of both worlds!
Good afternoon Lynne, I have traveled some, we went to Mazatlan, it it was very nice, we traveled by plane, train and bus. On the train we went to the Copper Canyon and that is really something to see, the train ride there was spectacular! Mazatlan is very beautiful also, even though the first night we got there we were welcomed with a hurricane, Hurricane Tico. I have gone to Puerto Rico, which is really beautiful also. We went to Hawaii and we have traveled to different National Parks. We went to the Painted Desert and it is really beautiful and something to see. I bet you are glad to be home now, it is very nice to go traveling but it is always so very nice to come back home My husband and I will be going on a train trip very soon, we will be traveling from Texas to Arizona, I am really looking forward to that. The other day I read some sample chapters of your book Loving An Untamed Wonder and it sounds like such a great story, just reading the sample chapters on Amazon got me hooked on it. (not entering this ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy, but Thank you) Thank you for joining us today and sharing your travels. Have a Great weekend.
WOW! Sometimes I wish I had the nerve to fly, and the couple of times I did were amazing, but I just can’t bring myself to do it again. Sounds like you should write some books! A hurricane? Copper Canyon? All your adventures with magnificent scenery?
Roger and I have talked about a train trip and researched it some, then we got so confused, we decided to turn on You Tube and take a virtual trip instead! LOL! You’ll have to let me know how your trip turns out.
Yes, I’m glad to be home. I was tapping my heels saying, “There’s no place like home!”
Thank you for the kind words about “Loving An Untamed Wonder.” I had a blast writing it and the one before it – “Flirting With Mischief”. Both were full of humorous situations.
My next 2 books, “Muriel, Mesa Verde Bride” & “Secrets Within Edgewood Estate” are a bit dark, but do have happy endings. I believe the darker things are, the brighter the Lord’s light shines through.
I too struggle with technology. Just ask the people here at Petticoats and Pistols how much they had to go through fixing everything I sent them for this blog post! LOL! But, I am learning, very slowly, but going forward.
Great to hear from you and I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful train trip!
Utah and surrounding states are amazing with so with all those beautiful canyons and other formations.
You are right, Debra! Miles and miles of flatland, and then from out of nowhere, a giant rock formation is sticking up out of the ground! Right near Four Corners is full of them and can be seen from miles away. In fact, I was so enamored with them, I had my cover artist put a picture of Shiprock on the cover of “Trapped in Coral Ridge” a few years ago. I finally got to see it for myself last month.
The landscape is amazing. It’s so flat for forever, then you go around one of those rock formations and enter into steep mountains! I’m talking jaw-dropping, unpredictable sights! Absolutely amazing!
I loved every visit to the San Francisco Bay area when our kids lived out there, but my most wonderful trip was Paris. I’d dreamed of Paris ever since I was a little girl and found a packet of 1890s black-and-white postcards of the city in an antiques shop in Whitehall, Michigan. I spent the whole $5 my grandfather had given each of us on them and practically wore them ragged gazing at the pictures of that magical city. It wasn’t until 2009 that I finally got to go and it was…magical, indeed!
Nan, I’m so sorry…once again, I hit the wrong button to reply. My response to your comment is right below here.
Nan, I’m so happy for you! To fulfill a childhood dream like that is magical indeed!
I must admit, your destinations have taken me out of my comfort zone. I don’t care for crowded places, and I don’t fly. I have only been to Northern CA, and I was shocked at how unpopulated it was, not to mention how beautiful. I wanted to see where the mountains met the ocean, because here, on the east coast, the land gets flatter and sandier as you get closer to the ocean.
I have always wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge, but I can’t bring myself to drive in such traffic. So, I have to settle for pictures. I envy your travels and think it’s so cool that you made your childhood dream come true!
Do you still have the postcards?
I have been lucky enough to visit many wonderful places. I climbed active volcanoes in the Philippines (melted my sneakers) and Indonesia (where I had to doge hot rocks and ash during an eruption), and had awesome experiences in Indonesia/Bali. Here in North America, there have also been many great trips. We did one similar to your. recent one just before COVID. We drove from TN to Seattle, took the train to Vancouver and a cruise/land tour to Alaska. We flew back to Seattle, picked up our RV and drove back to Alaska, and home partly through Canada, crossing back into the US near Glacier. It was 2 1/2 months and 13,000 miles.
You visited one of our favorite places, Mesa Verde. We lived in Colorado Springs for 3 years and traveled down to Mesa Verde several times. We have been back a couple of times since moving East, once to take our son who was an infant when we lived out there, and once on a Western trip with our grandson. The work involved in building the cliff dwellings and the difficulty reaching some of them is impressive. You can feel the age and history of the place.
I am so glad you were able to make the trip. There is so much history that you can touch and that touches you out there.
YES! When I was out there, that’s exactly how I felt, as if I was touching history and it was touching me! An Awesome experience!
You are quite a bit more of a dare-devil than I am! I would have stood at the visitor center of the volcano and waved at you! LOL!
Mesa Verde is astounding, isn’t it? All the intricate work and the protection from enemies and predators…and even from harsh weather!
Did you realize that even more cliff dwellings were found after the last big wildfire out there? I can’t remember when it was, but it amazes me that things are still being discovered.
Thanks for your insights!
I got to visit The Biltmore Estate in Asheville North Carolina several years ago. It was so beautiful. I’d love to go back some day.
What time of year did you visit? I’ve never been during the Christmas Holiday season, but I’ve drooled over many pictures of it. I’ve been in Spring, which it was really too early to see many blooms, and early summer when the hundred year old wisteria was in full bloom overhead on the outside patio. Now that was a sight to behold.
The house is unbelievable! Of course, the public doesn’t get to see it all, but can you imagine living in a place that huge? I would need a map!
I think some of the outbuildings, maybe even the carriage house was damaged by Hurricane Helene last September 26th, but I’m not sure. I know the house wasn’t damaged. A lot of the downtown area was hit pretty bad. I haven’t been back to that particular area lately.
Since it’s fall, that would be a wonderful time to go back again!
Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon National Park, are all very awesome!
Sorry Bridgette, I hit the wrong button again! My reply is right below here.
Yes! Yes! Yes! When we were planning our trip to Grand Canyon in 2019 (I think), I didn’t know much about Bryce or Zion. Our neighbor told us we really needed to go and I’m glad we followed his advice. It was wonderful! Grand Canyon, we were up at the top looking down…Bryce, we were down at the bottom looking up!
Amazing land we live in! I want to see it all!
zoo
Now that’s somewhere I haven’t been in a while. Maybe it’s about time I did! We had so much fun with the kids and grands at the zoo when they were little.
Thanks for the suggestion!
I want to extend a sincere thanks to the Fillies at Petticoats and Pistols for having me here today. I have had a blast! And thanks to each and every one of you that took time to read and comment. I hope to meet up with you again in the near future!
Yeehaw and Woohoo for now!
I haven’t traveled much but our kids and grandkids enjoy going to Branson Missouri. We took our kids when they were small and they still are going every year just like they did when they were small .
Isn’t it wonderful to have family traditions?!?! One of our daughters still takes her family to the campground at the beach we always went to when she was a child. It’s reassuring to know they enjoyed their childhood.
You’re right about there being too many to choose just one. I’ll pick Niagara Falls – seeing, hearing, feeling that raw power is amazing and overwhelming (take that, puny humans!).
Nice Choice! It is powerful!
In my blog post I wrote that there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself, but with Niagra Falls, even when you’re standing there looking at it, you still don’t truly realize how enormous it is until one of those sight-seeing boats gets close to it.
I don’t know that I can pick one either. Alaska alone has so many awe inspiring places from glaciers to earthquake park, the North Pole, reindeer, and on and on. Yellowstone also has so many points of interest. Seemed like something new around every curve in the road. Dry Valley was amazing too, as was the Grand Canyon. I know you had a fabulous time. We traveled 12,000 miles by car when driving to Alaska. Once in a lifetime trip.
And so inspiring! I wish everyone could do it at least once!
And so inspiring! I wish everyone could do it at least once!