Nancy and Melvin Ramos of Seal Beach, recently returned home from a road trip throughout the southwestern states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
The couple took a copy of the Sun Newspaper along on their travels and took photos of themselves with the paper and shared about some of the places they visited.
A hightlight of their trip was visiting The Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, a rich ecological resource. According to Melvin Ramos, “retired biology professor Richard Beidleman notes that the park is ‘the most striking contrast between plains and mountains in North America’ with respect to biology, geology, climate, and scenery,” he said.
A dinosaur species, Theiophytalia kerri, was found in the park in 1878, and studies of the skull in 2006 reveal it to be a new species. A honey ant never before recorded was also discovered in 1879 and named for the park. Mule deer, bighorn sheep, and fox abound in the area. The park is also home to more than 130 species of birds including white-throated swifts, swallows and canyon wrens.
They also visited The Palace Bar in Prescott, Arizona, which first opened its doors in September of 1877. Although Whiskey Row was known for its many saloons, The Palace was much more than a fancy “watering hole.” Men came in to check for notices of work available; it served as an election central for several area political races and cattle spreads; and mineral claims were bought and sold over the bar.
The Palace is still the oldest frontier bar in Arizona and the most well-known and historic restaurant and saloon in the state.
The Sun is seeking more photos of readers with the newspaper on a trip at least 10 miles from Seal Beach. Send photo and other information about your trip by e-mail to dennis@sunnews.org. Happy trails.
