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Northern California’s Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Readies for April 1 Opening

2010-03-16T10:00:00Z

Despite unusually heavy winter rains and snow, the owner of the historic Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad said the line will open April 1, 2010 and begin its 44th year as one of northern California's favorite visitor attractions.

"We have had a lot of snow up there this year," said Max Stauffer, owner of the railroad. "One storm in particular dropped a lot of very wet, and as a result, heavy, snow. It brought a lot of trees down over the lines that we are now clearing up."

Winter Road Survival in the West Starts From the Ground Up

2010-01-20T22:52:44Z

The West offers drivers a variety of winter conditions, from the ice and slush found in such cities as Denver, St. Louis and Minneapolis to the rain and mud that heavy storms bring throughout much of the Southwest.

With that in mind, OldWestNewWest.com Travel & History Magazine asked the experts at Tire Rack, America's largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, to share some driving tips and tire information for our readers, starting with using tires dedicated for winter conditions.

Plan to Hike the Grand Canyon? Here are a Few Tips to Help Keep You Safe

2009-07-15T23:58:57Z

About 5 million visitors each year go see the wonders of Grand Canyon National Park, and many take the time to do some form of hiking.

Whether you're planning a day hike, or something more ambitious such as overnight hiking, the National Park Services encourages visitors to do some planning even before your feet touch the ground, and once you get started, use some common sense guidelines.

San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay Celebrates 3 New Exhibits

2009-04-06T03:36:10Z

Saying it's a focus on the animals that visitors most want to see, San Francisco's Aquarium of the Bay unveiled three new exhibits on April 4, 2009 featuring jellies, octopus - and what's this? Land animals?

"This marks the first time that Aquarium of the Bay has featured land animals," stated CEO John Frawley. "While our overall focus remains on the marine animals of the San Francisco Bay and nearby waters, we feel the addition of these new terrestrial species will spark visitors' awareness of the growing environmental challenges that are impacting all types of wildlife across the globe."

‘Cave Without a Name’ in Texas Given Landmark Status

2009-03-02T00:22:36Z

Cave Without a Name, the sixth longest cave in Texas, has been named a National Natural Landmark.

The landmark status was given to the Texas natural wonder, along with a rare ecosystem in Pennsylvania, and major fossil sites in Kentucky, New York, and Vermont.

Bob Livingston Talks About Some Great Places for You to Visit in 2009

2009-01-04T17:39:33Z

If there's anyone who can offer our readers some great vacation ideas and favorite places to visit in the West in 2009, it's Bob Livingston, senior vice president of Affinity Media, and publisher of Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines, and the Good Sam Club's member magazine Highways.

So, I asked Bob, an avid RVer, to share with you some of his preferred getaway destinations, places that might be a little less visited and might be even thought of as a secret spot of his.

Texas Offering Holiday Food, Fun & Festivities

2008-11-30T19:05:18Z

Texas is presenting a variety of distinctive holiday events, many of them available through Jan. 4, 2009, and they range from tree lighting festivals to historic home tours, markets and parades.

One thing is for sure: No snow boots or parkas are required to enjoy festivities around the Lone Star State during the holiday season.

Hiker Rescued From Yosemite’s High Country

2008-11-29T22:46:33Z

A stranded hiker snow-bound in California's Yosemite National Park for 12 days is alive today because of some smart decisions he made after he got stuck - and a little good luck.

Rangers said park visitor Steve Frazier was rescued Nov. 12 after being trapped for nearly two weeks in two feet of snow. Searchers spotted the missing hiker and his camp from the air on their very first pass over the area after seeing an "SOS" that he had stomped out in the snow.

Colorado Has Christmas Holiday Events, Packages

2008-11-09T20:28:29Z

Train rides to the North Pole, horse-drawn sleigh rides through snowy forests, Charles Dickens, the aroma of cookies and cocoa in mountain villages. This is another side of Colorado's winter season. Now through the New Year, travelers can take advantage of a variety of Christmas holiday-inspired packages and events.

Following are a few ways to celebrate the holidays in Colorado. For a complete list of vacation values and more, visit www.colorado.com.

West Claims Seven 'Most Visited' National Parks in'07

2008-08-29T01:53:00Z

Seven of the 10 most visited National Parks in 2007 were in the West, according to the National Park Service, and those seven parks hosted 22.2 million visitors.

Of the 10 most visited national parks in 2007, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, saw the greatest number of visits at 9.37 million.