Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is a grand, expansive destination for travelers in search of a adventure. Throughout the park, there are opportunities to hike, swim, travel scenic mountain passes, observe native wildflowers, and observe wildlife in their natural setting. One of my favorite activities within the park is to observe alpine wildflowers or otherwise…
Characterized by its steep, high-peaked topography, Boulder County is located in the easternmost section of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain foothills. The Boulder area is known for its mountainous, rugged terrain and its many scenic trails. One such trail is just west of downtown Boulder. The scenic, 3.2 mile out-and-back Anne U. White Trail provides an easy…
Jefferson County, Colorado is home to many scenic mountain hikes. With over 275 miles of trails, 75 parks, and 58,000 acres of open space to enjoy, there is something for everyone. For a commanding view of Denver, the Continental Divide, and downtown Golden, Colorado, consider a hike on the Galbraith Loop Trail just outside of…
New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest is home to clear blue skies, stunning scenery, wildflowers, and an abundance of hiking trails. Each time I visit New Mexico, I am reminded why the state is known as the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico is home to a wide range of stunning landscapes, colorful sunsets, indigenous culture,…
Few things in the Upper Great Lakes region are more scenic than a long stretch of Lake Superior shoreline. If you’re in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula driving along MI-28 between Marquette and Munising, be sure to stop at Au Train Beach. This beautiful, remote beach is a scenic, peaceful, and stunning stop along Lake Superior’s southern…
The Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico is home to stunning scenery, vivid blue skies, and an abundance of hiking trails. Each time I visit New Mexico, I am reminded why the state is known as the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico is home to a range of stunning landscapes from high plains and…
Have you ever hiked the rim of a volcanic crater? For most of us, the answer is no. Are you interested in exploring an ancient cinder cone volcano by car, or by foot? I encourage you to plan a visit to Capulin Volcano National Monument! Located in northeast New Mexico, this extinct cinder cone volcano is…
Have you ever wanted to immerse yourself in an environment that looks and feels like a foreign planet? To visualize hundreds of thousands of years of geologic time in one place? If your answer is yes, I highly recommend a visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo…
If you have never visited Michigan’s stunning Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, this is your sign to make it happen! Along Lake Superior’s southern shore near Munising, Michigan, beautiful 50-200 foot sandstone cliffs stretch on for over 15 miles. These sedimentary sandstone cliffs are composed of minerals such as iron oxide, copper, manganese, and limonite deposited…