Let me take you on a journey through one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever done; featuring colorful wildflowers, mountain glaciers, roaring waterfalls, abundant wildlife, towering pines, and, of course, a beer at the peak. Welcome to Mt. Rainier National Park.
Tag: wildlife
Indiana Sand Dunes National Park
At first glance, this park might seem like a one-and-done type of bucket list item, but the re-visitability of this park is high. In the summer, the dunes make for the perfect beach day destination. Day hikes, swimming and picnics are done best here.
Wildlife Spotting in the Everglades
Flamingo Marina is probably the best spot in Everglades National Park for wildlife viewing. Since it is located with direct access to the ocean, you can see alligators, crocodiles, sharks, dolphins and, of course, manatees.
Goin’ Down the Bayou — Swamp Tour
Southern Louisiana is largely bayou. When you think of a bayou or swamp, what do you picture? Maybe it's dirty water with gnarly looming trees and a low film of fog. Or shallow muck that creeps onto the shoreline. Well, maybe these aren't that far off from reality, but it's far more beautiful than your … Continue reading Goin’ Down the Bayou — Swamp Tour
Way Down in New Orleans
New Orleans is lively city full of rich color, character and amazing food! The activities are endless and there's a little something for everyone. We were way down in New Orleans for about four days, staying just a couple blocks away from the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. We packed a lot into a couple … Continue reading Way Down in New Orleans
Sea Turtles and Black Sand
On our first full day in Hawaii, we didn't really know what to do. So, after an eventful breakfast, we headed to the south shore of the island to hit the beach. Located on the Kaʻū coast, Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is famous for its black, volcanic sand. We found a shady spot under a large … Continue reading Sea Turtles and Black Sand
The Home of Modern Surfing: Waikiki Beach
Modern surfing...what does that mean? The first traces of surfing were discovered in Polynesian cave paintings originating back to the 12th century. Over the course of many wayfinding expeditions, surfing was brought to Hawai'i where the sport went viral. Duke Kahanamoku is credited as the father of modern surfing for his role in popularizing the … Continue reading The Home of Modern Surfing: Waikiki Beach
Feeding Chickadees at Anvil Lake
Have you ever fed a chickadee right from the palm of your hand? I hadn't. But don't worry, this isn't some cheap money grab where you pay $5 for birdseed at some random petting zoo...These are wild chickadees, on public land, so you can have this experience for FREE — as long as you know … Continue reading Feeding Chickadees at Anvil Lake
Looking Back at 2022 — Recapping the Year
At the beginning of 2022, I decided I wanted to challenge myself to get outside and explore more. As a goal-oriented person, I decided to define this challenge into very specific boxes I could check off. In retrospect, some of these goals were far heftier than I originally realized, and while I did not complete … Continue reading Looking Back at 2022 — Recapping the Year
Summiting Grizzly Peak
Colorado is known for its 14ers, the peaks in the Rocky Mountains that exceed 14,000ft. Grizzly Peak is not one of those peaks. While Grizzly doesn't quite meet the benchmark, it does sit rather pretty at 13,428ft — my personal highest. With the steep grades and drastic elevation changes that go along with them, this … Continue reading Summiting Grizzly Peak
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