While there are many photographic opportunities on Key West, from architecture to jewel hued waters, there was one that I had missed on my previous trips.
I have driven on this highway, of which parts are quite spectacular and picturesque, and stretches from upper Maine to Florida. The highway spans 2,369 miles and connects most major cities in the eastern United States, culminating on the corner of Fleming and Whitehead streets in Key West.
The sign, one of the most popular places to have your picture taken, is in front of the US1 mile marker zero sign. Selfies rule here and then you can pop in to one of the souvenir shops and buy something to commemorate the occasion!
My husband and I, enroute to the Hemingway House, took a few moments here on our first day on the island and again on our last as we turned onto the highway in our rental car to head back to the mainland.
While there are many other things to see in Key West, you’ll probably pass near the sign while heading to other points of interest. It is a must-do, so you can say you did!
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For many years, stories about alien sightings and the Extra Terrestrial Highway has captivated my interest and I have always wondered just what was out there, besides Area 51, the most secretive and famous military bases in the world.
Certainly no parking meters…or even parking meteors!
On this particular trip to Las Vegas, I decided that taking the northern route to where Highway 93 intersects with Route 375 was going to be an adventure that I was going to seek out.
My son insisted that in the spirit of the trip, I download Joe Rogan’s podcast highlighting Bob Lazar’s recollections of his time working at Area 51. It was an interesting story to pass the monotony of the drive and before I realized it, I had reached the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, a beautiful oasis that I wasn’t expecting amidst the arid topography. With a modern Visitor Center explaining the refuge’s history, large lakes, abundance of wildlife and a variety of hiking trails, I decided that it would be a fantastic destination…on another trip.
Time to focus and keep my eye on the prize.
I continued onward on Highway 93, passing the communities of Alamo and Ash Springs and finally, encountered the first of my alien sightings at the Jerky Shop. So, they were aliens of the painted and plastic kind, but it was exciting nonetheless!
As I turned my car onto Route 375, I immediately pulled over. This was the start of the E.T. Highway, marked with an official sign.
Taking a selfie to mark the occasion, I jumped back into my car and just a ways up the road, encountered Fred, the 35-foot tall metal alien standing guard at the Alien Research Center. The “research center”, the unofficial gateway to Area 51, is actually a gift shop, specializing in t-shirts, tequila and an abundance of alien-themed gifts.
After speaking with the the lady at the gift shop, I learned that the next destination on the E.T. Highway would be the town of Rachel, approximately forty miles away. I cranked up my music, enjoying the desert scenery, the occasional alien graffiti and my favorite, the “Low-Flying Aircraft” signs. I am sure they were warning of small planes that patrol and travel the area, however, knowing where I was, it was very amusing!
As I drove along, I found myself scanning not only the sky, but each side road that disappeared into the desert. Could that be the way to Area 51?
Finally, I arrived in Rachel, the home of the Little A’Le’Inn and their assortment of alien-themed souvenirs and foodstuffs. I had read that I should stop in at the diner and have a piece of pie, but I was more curious to listen in on other’s conversations or glean something interesting from one of the employees. Enjoying my tasty pastry, I tuned in to the guys sitting a few seats down at the bar. Interested only in chatting about their bike trip, I then glanced over at the table of four British tourists. Too far away to hear their discussion, I instead turned to my phone to occupy my time.
What could I find on the internet about Area 51?
Maybe directions on how to get there?
Yeah, right.
Well, wouldn’t you know…as I read another’s blog about their trip to the area, this person gave specific instructions as to how to find the road that leads to the back gate of Area 51…and I had just passed it.
Did I have the guts to not only turn down that road, but to follow it to see if the back gates were actually there? As I made my way around the Little A’Le’Inn’s building, checking out their flying saucer and their welcoming “little green man”, I alternately decided to go and then, not go.
Pulling out of the parking lot, I headed back the way I had come on Route 375 and just a short ways down, I spotted the road that I had just read about. Turning in, I was re-reading the instructions as a car pulled alongside, startling me. A young couple rolled down their window and asked if I was going to travel the distance.
Still apprehensive, I heard a little voice telling me to seize the moment. I told the couple that if they led the way, I would follow.
Oh, please…don’t let me get arrested!
We headed down the road, dust flying, for approximately seven miles. This is when I knew that we were on the correct course as I had read that the entire road was ten miles with only the last three being paved. When we hit the pavement at mile eight, the anxiety really kicked in. I followed the couple the remaining distance until, on the horizon, I noticed tall light posts, a guard shack and fence stretched across the pavement. Thankfully, we pulled over, me behind them, where I snapped a quick photo, hoping no trained eyes were watching. Feeling a bit relieved when we turned around and headed back to Route 375, I pulled over before continuing my drive back to Vegas.
Giving a glance behind and even a glance upward.
No armed guards. No flying saucers. No little green men.
There have always been lots of unanswered questions surrounding this mysterious area in the Nevada desert. Seeing what I was led to believe are the back gates to Area 51 was at the same time, thrilling, yet left me with lots of questions.
If the government really didn’t want anyone to know where Area 51 is, why would they allow someone to post instructions on how to get there on the internet? Maybe it is a fake gate. But who knows? Maybe it is real.
I will never know for sure what I saw out in the desert near Rachel, but I do know that my entire experience along the E.T. Highway was something that I will never forget.
If someone asked me whether the long drive was worth it. Absolutely! Despite its intriguing quirkiness, the desert, itself, it is a place of mystery and beauty.
Who knows…maybe you’ll be the one to see more lights in the sky there than you can in Vegas!
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I have driven this stretch of roadway many times, heading to the mountains to ski, to my son’s baseball games, to college visits, to pick apples in the fall and to visit friends.
When driving, scenic pull-overs always grab my attention. I love to stop and see why it would warrant someone’s attention.
One such stop, on Interstate 64 eastbound, near Afton Mountain (between mile markers 103 and 104), offers more than just beautiful views of the adjacent Blue Ridge Mountains and Albermarle and Nelson counties.
Constructed in 2004, with $168,000 in donations from VDOT workers and family members, the VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) Workers’ Memorial and Scenic Overlook is a place for family members, friends and colleagues to reflect on the loss of their loved ones who have lost their lives while performing their jobs as state highway transportation workers.
The Virginia Department of Transportation was established in 1906 and since its inception, many workers lives have been lost while carrying forth the responsibilities of their jobs, many in . work zone incidents. The names of 134 employees who have died between 1928 and 2012 are engraved on the memorial in random columns.
The thirteen foot high memorial’s design shows three profiles of workers wearing hard hats cut into black, white and gray granite. These layers of granite depict the diversity of VDOT’s employees and the open profile at one end represents a “missing” worker. While looking through this “missing” worker, visitors can see the scenic view, while enjoying the surrounding wildflowers and daylilies.
If you are heading through beautiful Virginia, take a few minutes to pull over, enjoy the view and pay your respects to those who made the highway you are traveling on possible. And if you see workers along the way…
Slow down!
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