Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires

We did not think it would take us very long to reach to the White Sands Monument on the next leg of our trip, but we were dead wrong!  While driving through the Lincoln National Forest, we made so many road side stops that we didn't make it anywhere close to our destination until well into the evening.

The O'Babbitt's with Smokey The Bear
The mountain range in the distance is where the real life cub was found after the Captain Gap Fire
in 1950...originally named Hotfoot, this brave little orphan was the fire's only survivor

We also stopped at Smokey Bear Historical Park
The mascot of the United States Forest Service lived to be 26 years old & is buried here

We stopped & cooked a homemade lunch of soup & baked potatoes
with this beautiful view in the background

We had to stop when we saw the World's Largest Pistachio
McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch & Arena Blanca Winery had tons of samples & savory wine tastings