22 in 2022 -- Go to the Community Public Market in Appleton

 Instead of doing a winter farmer's market inside the City Plaza, Appleton created the Community Public Market. It was created in 2020 and the pandemic cut it short. The Community Public Market was back last year and I just never got down there for it. I was determined to go this year. 

The Community Public Market is in the Fox Cities Convention Center one Saturday a month in January, February, and March. In January, it was cancelled due to an outbreak of COVID. February was the same day as Death By Chocolate and just didn't work out. That meant I had to get there in March if I was going to knock it off my list this year.

Each aisle of the convention center had a different theme: Retail Road, Farmer's Market Square, Artisan Alley, Play and Learn Lane, Tasty Trail, and Wellness Parkway. Each of them focusing on different products and services.

As we came down the escalators, the Building for Kids had a play area set up with giant form dinosaur bones. I attempted to build a dinosaur. I didn't get very far. It's harder than it looks. When we left the dinosaur bones were gone and replaced with building blocks. You never know what fun activity awaits kids.

Inside the convention hall, we wandered the different "Streets" -- stopping at booths that piqued our interested. Some streets had more vendors than others. The best part I got some cannoli.  Okay so that was the other reason I needed a cannoli fix from Rudy.

Some booths were more interactive than others. One of them had Plinko.

There was live music as well.

It's a great concept but it was a bit lackluster. I felt it needed more booths and interaction. It almost felt very expo like and not like a market. It might be the environment or something. Maybe I just like outdoor markets better. I would be open to go again next only if it is just to get a cannoli fix.

3354. Visit the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in Kearney

 One of the stretch break stops I put on the docket while traveling through Nebraska was the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. This is the giant archway the spans I-80 that is part gift shop and part history museum. 

Again I didn't do my research carefully enough. I didn't realize the museum was in the Arch itself and that was the only way to go in the Arch. I assumed that museum was in an outbuilding. The museum is $12/ person and was accessed by a really steep escalator which put the kibosh on that idea. The hubby doesn't like escalators. I'm sure there was an elevator hidden away somewhere. I really didn't want to pay the $12/person either.

My other goal was to get a Pony Express stamp for my National Park Passport. The visitor center did not have it out and I didn't ask for it. I did get several pamphlets about Nebraska and the Lincoln Highway. The visitor center docent wanted to know if we were interested in the crane migration and we were not. Kearney is one of spots to see the large crane migration every year.

The gift shop was okay. We were looking for a coffee mug for grandma and they didn't have any. The magnets and postcards really didn't really scream buy me. Maybe I was just tired and done with traveling. 

But there was a covered wagon to check out.

Outside are several sculptures of early America and the Great plains.

Despite not going into the Archway, it was a nice stretch break. It is definitely worth checking out and pay the $12 to go through the museum. You get one of those hand held audio wands to carry around. 

4651. Go to Arches National Park in Moab

 I showed pictures of Arches National Monument to the hubby and he said we need to go. While planning, I saw that we could hit Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park since it is literally right off the interstate and skip Arches this time around. The hubby gave me that look that said "we aren't going to Arches?" So I planned on hitting both even if we got to Arches after the visitor center closed. We never made it to Zion because it was closed to an unexpected snow storm.

To get to Arches National Park, you get off 1-70 and travel 27 miles down a state highway towards the city of Moab. So not quite off the highway. It is a fairly flat stretch of highway with a few curves. If you are into hiking or camping, there are plenty of options along the route.

Once you get to Arches you will either need the National Park pass or pay $30 entrance fee. If you are traveling there between April and October, you will also need a timed entry pass if you are going to be there between 6 am and 5 pm. This is to avoid long waits to get in and avoid over crowding at the park. We had our national park pass and since it's March, no timed entry was needed.

Because we arrived after 4, the visitor center was closed. No stamp for me. I will write and request one.

This is where I nearly killed the hubby for the third time this trip. I failed to do proper research. I checked the roads to make sure no hairpin turns, bridges, etc and everything looked flat and an easy drive. What I didn't realize was into to actually see the Arches, you had to drive to the top of a cliff. It is narrow two lane road full of switchbacks. I told the hubby if he can make it up, I can get us down. He reluctantly agreed. There are pull offs on the way up to let faster traffic go by as well let the hubby calm his nerves. There are no pull offs on the way down. Once you get past the first of the four switchbacks on the way down, it is not so bad. I literally counted switchbacks to get down.

After making it to the top, we then followed the park road to see the park. Due to time, I know we could never see the entire scenic drive and opted to drive to the Windows Area to see the double Arch. 

Our first stop was the Park Avenue Viewpoint. It was the only spot I actually got out. It was cold and windy. I did not have proper footwear (sandals) on. Besides the hubby was cranky due to his vertigo was acting up. 

We then passed Balance Rock which is one of the more famous locations in the park.

We got to Windows and I thought about getting out but we could get a good view from the car so I did not. Besides parking is limited and there were people.

We saw a lot of Arches and rock formations on our way up and back down. I was perfectly happy with the amount of the park we saw. It is amazing to see what nature can do to a landscape.

Even though we only saw a small portion of the park and did not do any hiking, we did get to see a lot of arches and other rock formations. If we did not have the National Park Pass, it would not have been worth the $30 for what little we did but with the National Park pass, it was fine. 

Hopefully one day, I will get back and be able to explore more. It is a great spot to hike and enjoy nature. It does get busy and hot in summer. So this would definitely be a spring/fall trip. I know the hubby would never make it up the switchbacks again so I would need to find another willing companion to join me. 

3427. Visit the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden in Henderson

 We got to Vegas earlier than expected and needed something to kill time before we met up with the hubby's bubby. I had Ethel M's in the back of my head in case we had time to kill and since it was not on the strip, the hubby agreed we could go check it out.

Ethel M Chocolate Factory is located in Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas. It was founded by Forrest Mars Sr. and was named after his mother. It is the luxury brand of Mars candy. It has a factory, store, and a cactus garden. 

When you walk in, you are greeted with a sample of their candy -- milk or dark. Then you can watch the factory at work. They were making Snickers when we were there. 

Then it was off to the store. You can buy truffles or candy bars. You can pick out your truffles or get pre-packaged ones. It is a bit pricy at 3 candy bars for $10 or 12 truffles for $36. Then again any good truffle will set you back $2-$3 so not horribly outrageous considering we are in Vegas.

After a little convincing, the hubby agreed to get 12 truffles -- 6 for each of us. 12 was the smallest box that we could do of pick your own.  There were normal flavors like caramel and chocolate cream. Some had alcohol such as rum, agave tequila, Irish Cream, and bourbon. And then you had some untraditional flavors such as prickly pear and honey.

They had a mix of dark and milk chocolate truffles along with some white chocolate to choose from. I went with 6 dark and the hubby mainly went with light but did do one white. We saved them until we got home and they are very good.

With our chocolate in hand, we went to check out the cactus garden outside. It was a small garden but had several paths. There were a variety of plants and cacti. The hubby said it was better than the botanical gardens and I almost have to agree.

It is also a nice place to watch planes come into the airport if the wind is right as the flight path is right over the gardens. The hubby was thrilled so we watched planes for a bit as well.

Overall it was a great choice of a quick adventure. It was far enough off the strip that the hubby was good visiting. They do have a location on the strip in case you need your chocolate fix and are downtown. We are already planning on going back next trip.