Yosemite, land of rock and water, of towering trees and grassy meadows, of deep valleys and their surrounding mountains. It is my happy place. Unfortunately, it is also the happy place for millions of other visitors each year, who clamor to the California icon to hike, camp, and ooh and aah at the breathtaking scenery.…
Editor’s note: the US national parks system is truly diverse, ranging from awe-inspiring beauty to a more subtle wonder, like in this view of Amistad National Recreation Area by Christian, our resident national parks expert. For more of his experiences, click here to visit his index page. The Amistad National Recreation Area lies along the…
Nature is awesome. Let’s just put that out there. We live on an incredible planet that is full of wonder and beauty, with new things waiting to be discovered by intrepid travelers. Nothing is more emblematic of the remarkable world than trees. I’ve written before about the world’s largest trees, the giant sequoias of California,…
Typical for a summer morning, the fog is thick - pea soup thick, London thick - as I drive down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard through Point Reyes National Seashore. The coastline isn’t visible, though small gaps in the fog give away where it should be. The only things I am truly able to see are…
In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.John Muir Just north of San Francisco, across the mighty Golden Gate Bridge, there exists a tiny sliver of a forgotten world. Here, primeval forest holds its claim on a small canyon. Redwoods tower, a brook babbles, ferns grow in all shades of green,…
Editor’s note: what a wonderful story of bonding with a newborn through travel! Sam’s adventures may be changing, but I have no doubt that his stories, while a bit different, will be just as inspiring to all of us. For more of Sam’s incredible writing, click here to visit his index page. As everyone knows,…
It is an enduring symbol of San Francisco and of California, one of the most recognizable icons in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge has captivated artists, writers; locals, and tourists for nearly a century; its orange spans have achieved an almost mythical status. And yet, for so many, experiencing the majesty of the Golden…
Page, Arizona sits at the northern border of the state, just a couple miles south of Utah, where Glen Canyon Dam (and bridge) allows passage over the Colorado River. To the east lies Lake Powell. To the west is a mysterious area called the Arizona Strip, the northwest corner of the state that is separated…
Editor’s note: it’s awesome that Christian wrote this the same day I visited another National Seashore: Point Reyes in California. It seems the experiences couldn’t be more opposite! For more of Christian’s National Parks themed articles, click here for his index. Texas is known to many Texans as the Best Country in the World. Traveling…
Perhaps no natural wonder on Earth is as recognizable as the Grand Canyon. It has been said that it is the one place on the planet that, no matter how high one builds it up in one’s mind, lives up to expectations. Iconic, magnificent, Grand Canyon is a bucket list item for just about every…