A Girl with a Dude and a Sube, wandering Westward
Our first full day at Lassen Volcanic National Park starts with an education and ends with sunset over Manzanita Lake and a glowing Lassen Peak framed by dark forest. We fill the hours between with one of the best scenic drives in the U.S. and a hike so…well, California…that it brings unexpected emotions.
Heart O’ the Hills. Hurricane Ridge. Hidden Bush. And no, that last one is not a natural landmark that you’ve just never heard of.
A legendary rock climbing destination, Smith Rock State Park is a paradise for hikers as well. We made a (not-long-enough) stop here for a few hours on our way south to Bend. What our 4-mile-hiked lacked in length, it made up for with a challenging workout and spectacular scenery.
From Second Burroughs we see a trail winding down through a tundra meadow, up and over another peak. What’s this? We can get even higher and closer to Mt. Rainier?
We head down the mystery trail with these words in mind: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” — T.S. Elliot
With a desire to stay comfortable and somewhat connected, we purchased a bit of new gear for our long 2018 road trip. Our goal was to invest in quality products that we can use for years to come, although it’s worth noting that we didn’t blow the budget on high-end gear. For our first gear review, let’s talk about our REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 tent.
Old growth rainforest hugs the shore. Misty, foggy bluffs overlook dramatic sandy, rocky beaches. Today we fall deeply in love with the Oregon Coast.
Just a little teaser for my next two posts, which will chronicle our wanderings through Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Rain over Canyonlands
Utah
July 2016
Millions of tourists flock to the beautiful beaches of the St. Petersburg area each year. Yet by dedicating all of their time to the Gulf Coast shore, many miss out on really experiencing one of the most vibrant cities in the U.S. With that in mind, I present to you twelve more reasons to visit St. Pete.
Fort De Soto Park is a Florida camper’s dream. In addition to the lush, private campsites and the hundred activities you can enjoy at this beautiful beachfront park, the campground location is awesome. In minutes you can be in downtown St. Pete and the Gulf beaches.
This is one of my favorite campgrounds in the country. Read on to find out why.
Little did we know that a couple of planned stops in the St. Pete metro area would evolve into a celebration of a man whom I never knew… A man whose contributions to the sailing world cannot be understated. Two days after our arrival on the Pinellas Peninsula, we will come to believe that kismet that led us this particular place, on this particular weekend.
In the Orchard
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
August 2016
Wandering the blue highways of New Mexico, I side trip from the Turquoise Trail to Galisteo. The rain puts a damper on my photo walk, so it’s a spot I’d like to revisit sometime to photograph the pueblo ruins and shells of old houses in the tiny town.
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has been on my vacation wish-list from the moment I first read about its opening in 2011. Far more than just an important collection of American Art, the Moshe Safdie-designed building and 120-acre woodland park surrounding the site are almost as spectacular as the museum’s contents. Here are seven reasons you should plan a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum.
Bentonville, Arkansas may be best known as the home of Walmart and for its booming job market. However it is the Crystal Bridges Museum, bike paths, bustling downtown, brews, and burgeoning foodie scene that make it such an interesting place to visit.
Bentonville will appeal to the bourgie traveler and dirtbagger alike. There really is something for everyone here. When our trip came to an end, I really didn’t want to leave this cool southern city.
Far from the average tacky tourist town, Eureka Springs is a real-deal Victorian era city that quickly drew us in. Through a thousand feats of engineering, the beautiful historic town was built right into the limestone bluffs.
Even more impressive than the architecture is Eureka Springs’ welcoming, inclusive attitude. In these divisive times, this small Southern city sets a great example for how American cities could (and should) be.
