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 in search of an adventure. For a commanding view of Denver, the Continental Divide, and downtown Golden, Colorado, consider a hike on the Galbraith…
Along the southern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula lies an amazing outcrop of ancient volcanic basalt composed of the remnant cooled lava flows of ancient volcanic activity. This amazing outcrop, estimated to be 1.7 billion years old, is located on Presque Isle, a 323-acre peninsula extending into Lake Superior on the north…
In the Great Lakes region, spring is a treat for the senses. As the natural world wakes up, birds begin to nest, trees and shrubs begin to bud, and my personal favorite – native spring wildflowers begin to emerge. Also known as spring ephemerals, these beautiful native plants appear in early spring before the leaf canopy…
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,…
The southern Lake Michigan shore is home to beautiful beaches full of fossils, marbles, pottery, and other unique finds. Racine, Wisconsin’s Zoo Beach is one of my favorite Lake Michigan beaches to search for hidden treasures, comb for beach glass, fossils, pottery, and other unique treasures. This is a beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan’s southern…
Wisconsin is home to over 1,700 miles of biking trails. This vast network of trails includes over 40 rail trails, crushed gravel, paved, mountain biking, and multi-use trails. Wisconsin is also home to diverse landscapes, shaped in large part by receding glaciers of the last Ice Age. Among the more notable rail trails in the…
The Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine is located in southeastern Wisconsin in the beautiful town of Hubertus. Located at 1525 Carmel Road in Hubertus, the Basilica sits perched at 1,335 feet in elevation, one of the highest elevations in southeastern Wisconsin. This gorgeous basilica sits elevated within a gorgeous setting on 435 acres within…
Located just 30 miles north of Madison, Wisconsin, in the town of Baraboo, you’ll find a true geologic gem. Parfrey’s Glen was the first state natural area ever to be established in Wisconsin, in 1952, by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This scenic glen is part of Wisconsin’s 1.6 million year old Baraboo Range.…
The Military Ridge State Trail is a 40-mile crushed gravel trail located in Wisconsin’s Dane and Iowa Counties. This scenic trail passes through nine communities from Dodgeville, at the western end, to Fitchburg, just south of Madison. The name “Military Ridge” trail was chosen due to the trail forming a divide between the Wisconsin River…
Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine Forest is comprised of five main units, encompassing over 56,000 acres in southeastern Wisconsin. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail, one of only 11 National scenic trails in the United States, travels through varied terrain is the Kettle Moraine. This beautiful trail encompasses over 1000 miles and 28 counties in the state…