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Company Review: Kaiser Permanente
When I review companies I give my honest opinions and this will be a very long and brutal review. Let me set the overall tone. Kaiser Permanente is one of the worst companies that I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. They are bureaucratic beyond belief, their internal systems are a complete failure, their staff is poorly trained, and the management seems to be either clueless or incompetent. While this assessment may seem harsh this review will demonstrate that it is completely accurate. With Obamacare I am forced to purchase individual health care insurance. I live in Washington State and the policies of our state insurance commissioner caused…
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Hawaii
Hawaii is one of my favorite places. I have been to Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. Picking a favorite island is nearly impossible since each island is so different and each has such a different vibe. When visiting the islands be sure to NOT act like a typical tourist. Do NOT race from one place to another and try to see everything. Take your time, savor the flavor and feel of the islands, talk with locals (really take time to enjoy their company), and take time to do nothing but enjoy the tranquility. Above all, be respectful of the land and of the people. Here are some of my…
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Montezuma & Tuzigoot
The Sedona area is full of surprises and interesting places. Montezuma Castle, Montezuma Well, and Tuzigoot are three really interesting places are not far from Sedona. These are ancient ruins left by people who lived there between 1,000 and 1,400 AD. The hilltop community at Tuzigoot overlooks the entire valley. The Visitors Center contains models and artifacts from the community as well as details about the people who lived there. The ruins are a very short walk from the Visitors Center and it appears that they are in the process of restoring one of the rooms. The original pueblo was two stories high in places and contained 87 ground floor…
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Sedona, AZ
Sedona is an amazing place with red rocks, impressive geological monuments, and other amazing sights. Activities include hiking, off-roading, biking, and normal tourist activities including shopping, art galleries, museums, and dining. Sedona is a wealthy area where many of affluent and entertainment figures frequent. I normally do not enjoy the overpriced tourist locations but Sedona had a lot more to offer. Sedona has much to offer and you could spend many weeks seeing all the sights. Here are just a few of the things to see and do in Sedona. Tlaquepaque Tlaquepaque (T-la-keh-pah-keh) is a art and shopping community in the heart of Sedona. Tlaquepaque looks like an old Spanish…
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Hawaii: Oahu
Oahu has many famous sites including Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, etc. When I visit Hawaiian Islands I like to enjoy the natural places and the people. The big, bustling city of Honolulu is not my idea of Hawaii but many tourists flock there. Oahu has much to offer besides the big city. I particularly enjoyed the sites and history at Pearl Harbor. This is a “must see” place. I also enjoyed the climb to the top of Diamond Head and the spectacular views. Another favorite was the trail to the Makapu’u Lighthouse. Here are some of my favorite places on Oahu. Diamond Head, Oahu: (full article) The…
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Grand Teton, WY
Grand Teton National Park is adjacent to the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. If you in the area then this is a “must see” park. The Grand Teton mountains, lakes, and rivers are simply spectacular. Cameras cannot do justice to places like Grand Teton. The park has a loop road that starts at Jackson Lake. You may want to follow this driving tour of the park. Most of this information was taken from the Drive Tour handout available from the Visitor Center. Colter Bay Visitor Center: Ask the rangers for suggestions when hiking, sightseeing, or camping. The rangers know their stuff and are a wealth of valuable information. Willow…
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Grand Canyon
Many years ago I did some solo road trips that started in Garden Grove, CA and went through Las Vegas, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Bryce Canyon, Zion, etc. I did similar road trips two consecutive years (circa 1985 and 1986) and spent three nights on the floor of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon is a place that you see in photos and movies but you cannot truly experience it until you see it in person. I started these road trips after Thanksgiving and these places were cold, quiet, and devoid of crowds. I had seen the canyon many times in photos and movies but being there was completely different.…
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Taft Point & Sentinel Dome, CA
These are two of the coolest places and you can see both in a single half-day hike. This loop hike is a must see. You could complete this hike in a couple of hours but you will want to spend a fair bit of time at each location soaking in the views and taking photos. Be sure you have a camera for this hike and be sure to carry bear spray for protection. At the parking area you are faced with a tough choice. The trail to the right goes to Sentinel Dome and the trail to the left goes to Taft Point. Each trail is 1.1 miles one-way and…
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Ecola Park & Cannon Beach, OR
Two spectacular places on the Oregon Coast are Ecola Park and Cannon Beach situated about 25 miles from the northern border of Oregon. The road to Ecola Park is at the northern end of the city of Cannon Beach. When taking the coast drive these are definitely two places to stop and take photos. Part of the Goonies was also filmed here. If you are on a goonie trek, then you will have to stop here. From Hwy-101 take the road to Ecola Park. This pleasant road winds through an old growth forest with lots of very large trees. Take the road at a reasonable speed as it is quite…
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Tillamook, OR
The Oregon coast city of Tillamook is about 65 miles from the Washington border when driving on Hwy-101. We normally make a stop at Tillamook when driving back from Depot Bay. If you stay in Long Beach, WA or Astoria, OR then Tillamook is roughly a 1+ hour drive. Tillamook is known for dairy products, especially cheese. My favorite places in Tillamook are the cheese factory, the Air Museum, and the lighthouse. For a cheese-lover the Tillamook Creamery (factory) is almost like hallowed ground. They have self-guided tours and a large, well-documented viewing around above the factory floor. At each phase of the cheese-making process signs and videos explain what…