We arrived at Goblin Valley at around 10:30 in the morning. By this time the sun was up and it was already pretty warm outside. To be daring, we took our jogging/biking stroller along with us. It was going to be tough terrain for the stroller, but with the big wheels and high clearance, we figured it would survive. We actually were able to pack a medium sized, 2-gallon water cooler in the stroller along with a picnic blanket and a couple of folding camping chairs for my wife and me.

Most of our kids pausing their adventures for a quick snapshot

The kids had a great time walking several hundred feet and then stopping and climbing on the set of “Goblins” or rocks that they thought looked fun. Watch out McDonald’s Play Place, Mother Nature knows how to make the ultimate kids’ playground.

It was definitely a hot day, though. We try to visit Goblin Valley with “Early” in mind — “Early in the Year” and “Early in the day”. The kids each had their own water bottle. This was a MUST. They downed their bottles within an hour. We were lucky to have the stroller and the insulated water jug so that we could provide all of the refills that they needed during our hike.

Leading this crew of mine is like holding the world on my shoulders!

After about an hour into the adventure, we tried to find what little shade there was — provided only by towering piles of rock. There we broke out our picnic lunch. All of the hiking and climbing made the kids ravenous. Our family downed 10 peanut butter and honey sandwiches in one sitting!

One thing we did not prepare well for on our trip was having sunscreen. The red rocks of the goblin valley desert landscape seems to reflect and magnify the sun’s intensity. After two hours of visiting the valley, we knew we would be dealing with some sunburns.

The kids fetching our 5-year old from her daring hike

As the one-o’clock hour approached, we decided we had had enough sun and exercise for the day. We headed back to the Suburban to rest our weary legs and to let the youngest ones take a much needed nap. The stroller had been a good idea, though we were the only ones with the contraption. It worked well, but it was hard to push back up the steep hill that takes you to the Goblin Valley parking lot, but we made it.

The RadRoadTrips Family at Goblin Valley

The kids had a blast during our hike at Goblin Valley. We added a detour at the end of our trip to visit a dinosaur quarry nearby. That was a fun, restful experience compared to the hike at Goblin Valley. The kids were able to see real dinosaur bones in the process of being excavated by professional paleontologists.

It was a very great day trip for our family. Goblin Valley is a must see if you are in the vicinity of Southern Utah and you have younger kids that just don’t seem to run out of energy. We guarantee that by the time you are done visiting the state park, your kids will be happy to sit and rest in a cool vehicle!

About Goblin Valley

Goblin Valley was formed by years of wind and water carving unique goblin-like sculptures out of rock. This process has created an outdoor playground of sorts that inspires imagination and adventure. The landscape offers unlimited walking, exploring, or hiking opportunities. You can easily spend several hours hiking, playing and enjoying the goblin forms that you find here.

Near the entrance to the park there are excellent off-highway vehicle and biking routes to explore. Please note that ATV’s and bikes are not allowed inside the park itself (beyond the parking lot).

This amazing valley was first discovered by cowboys searching for cattle. Several years later, Arthur Chaffin, owner/operator of the Hite Ferry on the Colorado River, and two companions were searching for an alternate route between two Utah cities, Green River and Cainsville. They stumbled upon this alien landscape were awed by what they saw — a valley of strange-shaped rock formations surrounded by a wall of eroded cliffs.

Directions:
– 24 miles south of I-70 on Highway 24, turn at Temple Mountain junction, follow signs 12 miles to park.
– 20 miles north of the town of Hanksville on Highway 24, turn at Temple Mountain junction, follow signs 12 miles to park.

There is a nearby park & campground with sites that can accommodate large motor homes, interior paved roads, observation overlook, a new culinary water system, modern rest rooms, hot water showers, and a sanitary dump station. Each spacious campsite has a picnic table, paved parking pad and barbecue grill.

Fees for the park: $7 day fee per vehicle & $16 camping fee.

You can contact the state park for more details:
Goblin Valley State Park
P.O. Box 637
Green River, UT 84525-0637
(435) 275-4584
parkcomment@utah.gov
http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley

The following sheet of city names is one that we compiled where we thought the name of the city was humorous in one way or another. This printable worksheet can be used by some activities or games that are highlighted on our website.

Alabama

• Section, Alabama (MAP)
• Burnt Corn, Alabama (MAP)
Alaska

• Dead Horse, Alaska (MAP)
• Mary's Igloo, Alaska (MAP)
• Unalaska, Alaska (MAP)
• North Pole, Alaska (MAP)
• Chicken, Alaska (MAP)
Arizona

• Why, Arizona (MAP)
• Monkey's Eyebrow, Arizona (MAP)
Arkansas

• Toad Suck, Arkansas (MAP)
• Yellville, Arkansas (MAP)
Australia

• Wagga Wagga, Australia (MAP)
BC(Canada)

• Yak, BC(Canada) (MAP)
Canada

• Come By Chance, Newfoundland, Canada (MAP)
• Ecum Secum, Nova Scotia, Canada (MAP)
• Cankerville, Ontario, Canada (MAP)
Colorado

• Last Chance, Colorado (MAP)
• Paradox, Colorado (MAP)
• Hygiene, Colorado (MAP)
• No Name, Colorado (MAP)
• Hasty, Colorado (MAP)
England

• Prickwillow, England (MAP)
Florida

• Two Egg, Florida (MAP)
• Yeehaw Junction, Florida (MAP)
• Christmas, Florida (MAP)
• Frostproof, Florida (MAP)
• Picnic, Florida (MAP)
• Sopchoppy, Florida (MAP)
• Spuds, Florida (MAP)
• Celebration, Florida (MAP)
• Titusville, Florida (MAP)
• Banana Lake, Florida (MAP)
Georgia

• Experiment, Georgia (MAP)
• Enigma, Georgia (MAP)
• Ideal, Georgia (MAP)
Hawaii

• Poopoo, Hawaii (MAP)
Idaho

• Beer Bottle Crossing, Idaho (MAP)
• Beer Bottle, Idaho (MAP)
Illinois

• Normal, Illinois (MAP)
• Energy, Illinois (MAP)
• Bone Gap, Illinois (MAP)
Indiana

• French Lick, Indiana (MAP)
• Santa Claus, Indiana (MAP)
• Bacon, Indiana (MAP)
• Buddha, Indiana (MAP)
• Gnaw Bone, Indiana (MAP)
Iowa

• Beebeetown, Iowa (MAP)
• What Cheer, Iowa (MAP)
Kansas

• Gas, Kansas (MAP)
• Protection, Kansas (MAP)
• Speed, Kansas (MAP)
• Zook, Kansas (MAP)
• Buttermilk, Kansas (MAP)
• Nowhere, Kansas (MAP)
• Yoder, Kansas (MAP)
Kentucky

• Mud Lick, Kentucky (MAP)
• Shoulderblade, Kentucky (MAP)
• Oddville, Kentucky (MAP)
• Krypton, Kentucky (MAP)
• Quicksand, Kentucky (MAP)
• Ordinary, Kentucky (MAP)
• Petroleum, Kentucky (MAP)
• Cut Shin, Kentucky (MAP)
• Hazard, Kentucky (MAP)
• Hippo, Kentucky (MAP)
• Relief, Kentucky (MAP)
• Burning Springs, Kentucky (MAP)
• Beaver Lick, Kentucky (MAP)
• Cranks, Kentucky (MAP)
• Deerlick, Kentucky (MAP)
• Duckers, Kentucky (MAP)
• Mummie, Kentucky (MAP)
• Ready, Kentucky (MAP)
• Wax, Kentucky (MAP)
• Big Knob, Kentucky (MAP)
• Dwarf, Kentucky (MAP)
• Viper, Kentucky (MAP)
• Vortex, Kentucky (MAP)
• Decoy, Kentucky (MAP)
Louisiana

• Waterproof, Louisiana (MAP)
• Slaughter, Louisiana (MAP)
• Plain Dealing, Louisiana (MAP)
• Cutoff, Louisiana (MAP)
MD

• Chevy Chase, MD (MAP)
Maine

• Passamaquaddi, Maine (MAP)
Maryland

• Crappo, Maryland (MAP)
• California, Maryland (MAP)
• Point of Rocks, Maryland (MAP)
Massachussetts

• Cummaquid, Massachussetts (MAP)
Michigan

• Hell, Michigan (MAP)
• Climax, Michigan (MAP)
• Bad Axe, Michigan (MAP)
Minnesota

• Embarrass, Minnesota (MAP)
Mississippi

• Hot Coffee, Mississippi (MAP)
• Bobo, Mississippi (MAP)
Missouri

• Elmo, Missouri (MAP)
• Novelty, Missouri (MAP)
• Humansville, Missouri (MAP)
• Tightwad, Missouri (MAP)
• Competition, Missouri (MAP)
NM

• Elephant Butte, NM (MAP)
Nebraska

• Wahoo, Nebraska (MAP)
New Brunswick (Canada)

• Burnt Church, New Brunswick (Canada) (MAP)
New Jersey

• Piscataway, New Jersey (MAP)
• Buttzville, New Jersey (MAP)
New Mexico

• Weed, New Mexico (MAP)
• Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico (MAP)
• Bird in Hand, New Mexico (MAP)
• Flying H, New Mexico (MAP)
New York

• Flushing, New York (MAP)
• Bath, New York (MAP)
• Yonkers, New York (MAP)
• Busti, New York (MAP)
• Murder Bridge Hill, New York (MAP)
Newfoundland (Canada)

• Blow Me Down, Newfoundland (Canada) (MAP)
• Jerry's Nose, Newfoundland (Canada) (MAP)
• Joe Batts Arm, Newfoundland (Canada) (MAP)
North Carolina

• Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina (MAP)
• Lizard Lick, North Carolina (MAP)
• Meat Camp, North Carolina (MAP)
North Dakota

• Zap, North Dakota (MAP)
• Can do, North Dakota (MAP)
Nova Scotia (Canada)

• Lower Economy, Nova Scotia (Canada) (MAP)
Ohio

• Worstville, Ohio (MAP)
• Businessburg, Ohio (MAP)
Oklahoma

• Happyland, Oklahoma (MAP)
• Loco, Oklahoma (MAP)
• Bowlegs, Oklahoma (MAP)
Ontario (Canada)

• Dorking, Ontario (Canada) (MAP)
Oregon

• Boring, Oregon (MAP)
• Poop Creek, Oregon (MAP)
Pennsylvania

• Intercourse, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Stalker, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Scalp Level, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Beaverdale, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Burning Well, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Cheesetown, Pennsylvania (MAP)
• Jugtown, Pennsylvania (MAP)
Quebec (Canada)

• St. Louis de Ha! Ha!, Quebec (Canada) (MAP)
Saskatchewan

South Carolina

• North, South Carolina (MAP)
• Ninety-six, South Carolina (MAP)
• Coward, South Carolina (MAP)
South Dakota

• Tea, South Dakota (MAP)
• Bonesteel, South Dakota (MAP)
• Mud Butte, South Dakota (MAP)
• Eaglebutte, South Dakota (MAP)
Tennessee

• Bucksnort, Tennessee (MAP)
Texas

• Bangs, Texas (MAP)
• Earth, Texas (MAP)
• Oatmeal, Texas (MAP)
• Cut and Shoot, Texas (MAP)
• Gun Barrel City, Texas (MAP)
• Canadian, Texas (MAP)
• Chocolate Bayou, Texas (MAP)
• Dripping Springs, Texas (MAP)
• Frognot, Texas (MAP)
• Twitty, Texas (MAP)
• Bushland, Texas (MAP)
• Egypt, Texas (MAP)
• Noodle, Texas (MAP)
• Best, Texas (MAP)
• Bigfoot, Texas (MAP)
• Grow, Texas (MAP)
• Needmore, Texas (MAP)
• Needville, Texas (MAP)
• Petty, Texas (MAP)
• Camelot, Texas (MAP)
• Muleshoe, Texas (MAP)
• Blanket, Texas (MAP)
• Bug Tussle, Texas (MAP)
• Cheapside, Texas (MAP)
Turkey

• Batman, Turkey (MAP)
UK

• Prat's Bottom, UK (MAP)
Virginia

• Fart, Virginia (MAP)
• Tightsqueeze, Virginia (MAP)
Wales

• Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales (MAP)
Washington

• Humptulips, Washington (MAP)
• Walla Walla, Washington (MAP)
• George, Washington (MAP)
• Pysht, Washington (MAP)
West Virginia

• Man, West Virginia (MAP)
• Odd, West Virginia (MAP)
• Pinch, West Virginia (MAP)
• Acme, West Virginia (MAP)
• Sod, West Virginia (MAP)
• Left Hand, West Virginia (MAP)
• Shanghai, West Virginia (MAP)
• Tornado, West Virginia (MAP)
• Friendly, West Virginia (MAP)
Wisconsin

• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (MAP)
• Dykesville, Wisconsin (MAP)
Wyoming

• Chugwater, Wyoming (MAP)
• Frog Suck, Wyoming (MAP)
finland

• ii, finland (MAP)
ottowa

• nottowa, ottowa (MAP)

The only missing link in this remarkable feat is the 87 km or 54 mi long Darién Gap; a piece of undeveloped swampland forest that makes it impossible to travel from Panama to Colombia by normal car. Closing the gap would be cumbersome and expensive, and numerous environmental groups and indigenous populations are against it since they wish to protect the rainforest in its inhabitants from exploitation. Other reasons that have been put forth not to close the gap is to prevent the trafficking or drugs and people, to avert the spread of tropical disease, and to keep foot and mouth disease from returning to North America.

If you want to get a good sense of what its like to travel the Pan American Highway, the famous section known as the Inter-American Highway is a great option for a family road trip. It is not very long, but quite adventurous and runs through no less than seven nations; eight if you count the U.S. Also, while in Guatemala it is fairly easy to make a detour into the small English speaking nation of Belize on the Caribbean coast if you want to visit all Central American nations during your family road trip.

Guatemala is a mountainous land where the climate varies greatly depending on altitude. It is famous for its well preserved Maya Ruins and you can still see local women wearing traditional handmade Mayan blouses (huipiles) and skirts (cortes). As mentioned above, Guatemala is where you should make a detour eastwards if you want to visit its neighbour Belize.

The Guatemalan stretch of the Inter-American Highway will take your family through the capital, Guatemala City, and then southward to border of El Salvador. El Salvador has been plagued by armed conflicts and internal turmoil up until quite recently, but is now a growing economy that is striving hard to leave its painful history behind. In this little visited country, a series of environmentally-oriented community-based organizations promoting eco-tourism has been formed and you and your family has a unique chance to visit natural wonders that few tourists have ever seen before you.

After El Salvador you will reach Honduras, where the Inter-American Highway runs through the western part of the country. In Honduras you can for instance swing by Comayagua, the former capital of the country. Comayagua has retained much of its colonial old-world charm and does for instance sport a beautiful cathedral in its historic town centre.

The next stop on the line is the largest, but also poorest, country of Central America: Nicaragua. Once infamous for dictatorship and war, Nicaragua is now rising from the ashes and is luring and ever increasing stream of world travellers to its shores and inland regions. The once dreaded road system has improved dramatically during the last decade and the Inter-American Highway now connects to several top-notch roads. The newest addition is the foreign aid backed artery from colonial Leon to the sun and surf villages of Las Penitas and Poneloya on the west coast.

South of Nicaragua you will find Costa Rica; arguably the most well-known country in the region and the honey moon destination of choice for thousands of Yankees and Canadians. Costa Rica has no army and sports a high standard of living compared to its poorer neighbours. During recent years, it has also become a popular destination for U.S. residents in need of affordable health care.

Last but certainly not least is Panama, the international business centre with the largest economy in Central America. It controls the Panama Canal that links the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific, but is also unique from a biological perspective by having such a fascinating mix of South and North American plant and animal species.

If you are going to take the family on a family road trip to one of our nation’s national parks, you should take some time before hand to plan some activities that will involve the kids with the vast outdoors. The natural parks provide the perfect opportunity for parents to teach their children about the wonders of nature and the importance of taking care of the planet.

We’ve done some research and found some good books that can help you work with your kids in making the outdoor experience at your next national Park a memorable one.

Parent’s Guide to Hiking & Camping – by Alice Cary (Norton).

This great book deals with questions that many parents have regarding the types of activities that are compatible with the ages of the children. Alice covers topics such as the types and distance of hikes for young children. What to do and implement weather. What types of equipment are best used to help keep your children from getting lost or help them to be found in such an event.

The book is quite readable with many photos, informational boxes, advice from real people with children of their own. You’ll read about tidbits of advice spanning from purchasing children’s gear before the trip to addressing terror ridden fears of open-air toilets. She hits age-specific issues spanning the entire cycle of a child’s life and what they’re ready to do or what they may have to deal with in an outdoor camping situation.

The book is a wonderful addition to your family activity library that easily supplements and outdoor oriented lifestyle. The book is full of information on how to keep your kids warm, dry, happy, and excited about the outdoors.

The Kid’s Wildlife Book – by Warner Shedd.

This book focuses on younger children from about ages 7 to 12. It serves both as a field guide and an activity book with lots of information and fun snippets that the kids will enjoy. Each creature that is highlighted in the book as information presented in small bites and similar categories across all the animals. Biological terms such as dwellings, diet, animal sounds, procreation/meeting use more natural terms that kids can relate to such as, “Home Sweet Home”, “What’s for Dinner?”, “Let’s Talk”, and “Family Life”.

Not only is there information about animals that your child may encounter a national park, or in other outdoor settings, but there are also activities that the kids can participate in the helps them to understand the outdoors and nature better.

Book features include black ink cartoons, range maps, illustrations, and animal tracks.

Audubon Field Guides – by the National Audubon Society

The national Audubon Society has created an amazing collection of field guides over the many years that it has been in existence. Many of these field guides come with color pictures, and interesting facts on just about every species of the different animals highlighted in each of the books. Each book is centered around a specific theme. Some of the themes include trees, Southwestern plants, mammals, insects, spiders, reptiles, and even the night sky.

While these books may be a little heavy for children, they may help you become the ultimate Field guide for your kids. While on your family road trip through the national park, your children will be amazed by the little facts and tidbits that you know on the various plants and animals that you encounter.

In summary, early preparations by you as parents can make the world of difference to your children. A national park can be a true outdoor wonderland. Special activities and highlights given to the kids during your trip will only serve to enhance their experience there.

If you have plenty of room in your vehicle for basic camping supplies, and tent camping is a great option for your stops along your popular sites during a road trip. Some advantages of tent camping over other forms of lodging include, but are not limited to, the following benefits:

Above all, one of your deciding factors for tent camping during a road trip should include your end goals of the vacation. Does it make sense to stay in a tent where you don’t have as much sanitation or facilities to clean up, or would you be better served with the convenience of a hotel room. Weigh it out together, and make the best decision for you and your family.

A Snapshot of the Grand Canyon

When selecting a summer vacation destination, it is important that you consider a number of factors. These factors should include whether you are traveling with children, the age of your children, and the cost of travel. Keeping these factors in mind will enable you to select the summer vacation destination that will best fit your needs.

After you have selected a summer vacation destination, you can begin to make reservations. A large number of amusement parks, campgrounds, and hotels in the United States do not require reservations. Despite the fact that reservations may not be required, it is still advised that you make them. Popular summer vacation hotspots quickly fill up with vacationing tourists. Without the proper reservations, you may be left without the necessary accommodations. For example, if traveling to the Detroit area and you want to catch a baseball game, you may wish to book the baseball tickets online so as to get better deals, good seats, etc.

When it comes to booking a summer vacation, a large number of travelers use the assistance of a travel agent. Travel agents are individuals who specialize in researching and arranging vacations for their clients. Travel agents are popular because they allow clients to spend more time completing their daily activities, instead of having to research and plan a summer vacation.

If given the opportunity most families would prefer to use the services of a travel agent. Unfortunately, services of a travel agent do not come free. If you are interested in planning a summer vacation, on a budget, you may want to consider making your own reservations. In a few simple minutes, you could easily make reservations online or over the phone. Not only should your reservations include hotel accommodations, but travel accommodations as well.

Car travel is one of the most preferred methods of travel for arriving at summer vacation destinations as a family. Use the road trip ideas found on our website to take the car portion of your vacation from insane to bearable, and from bearable to enjoyable. There you will find ideas for traveling games, road trip activities, and family travel songs.

Unless you are camping outdoors, it is likely that you will need to reserve a hotel room. Unless you plan on staying at smaller resort, you should be able to make online reservations. Most of the well known hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, Hampton Inns, Super 8, and Motel 6, have online websites. Specialty resorts that are located in popular summer vacation destinations, including California or Florida, are likely to also allow online booking.

When it comes to overnight stays, most individuals would prefer to stay at a hotel, but not everyone. A large number of families enjoy vacations that are centered on the outdoors. These vacations often involve camping outdoors. Even if you plan on vacationing at a state park or a public campground, you are still urged to make a reservation. Public campgrounds and state parks are often limited on the amount of camping space they have. Making a reservation will ensure that you are guaranteed a place to set up your tent or park your RV trailer.

To book a popular vacation destination, but at a discount, you may want to looking the services offered by online travel websites. These websites tend to offer discounts on popular hotels, airlines, and restaurants all around the world. The only downside to using the services offered by an online discount travel website is that they tend to focus only on popular summer vacation destinations. If you are looking to vacation at an unknown resort, you may be unable to use the services of a discount travel website.

Whether you choose to use the services of a discount travel website, a professional travel agent, or you intend you make your own vacation reservations, you are encouraged to take the appropriate steps. Anticipating room at the hottest summer vacation destinations is a costly mistake that could possibly ruin your vacation. Don?t make that mistake; book your reservations ahead of time.

About the Author
Mark Masterson works at Flag Display Case retailer, Anthem Flag & Gift (www.AnthemFlag.com). His current pet project is an Online Gift Wish List service, www.WishTips.com.

This article is sponsored by Baseball Tickets: A sports entertainment site with great resources for every event and venues with team and venue history for every sport as well as baseball tickets information.