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…
Have you visited Michigan’s stunning Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? 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 during the Precambrian and Cambrian periods. As groundwater drips down…
Wisconsin is home to a variety of picturesque landscapes, in large part shaped by the receding glaciers of the last Ice Age. Over the millennia, glacial ice scoured the land, leaving behind unique landforms such as glacial moraines, kettles, kames, drumlins and eskers that dot the landscape. While such glacial deposits are common in the…
Market season has arrived in the Great Lakes region! If you’re looking for a vibrant farmer’s market with fresh, seasonal produce, sweet treats, arts and crafts, fresh artisan breads and cheeses, live music, all with the backdrop of one of our beautiful Great Lakes…. HarborMarket, in Kenosha Wisconsin, is the place to be along Lake Michigan’s southern…
One of the top lakes to paddle in southeastern Wisconsin is Lulu Lake, located in Walworth County. Lulu Lake and the surrounding State Natural Area (SNA) was designated in 1977. The Nature Conservancy and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources jointly manage Lulu Lake State Natural Area. Today, Lulu Lake preserve is a gorgeous preserve encompassing 1,800…
Wisconsin is home to serene, rolling hills, remnant prairies, sparkling lakes, cathedral pines, and rugged terrain. Sculpted in part by the receding glaciers of the last Ice Age, the state is home to diverse and unique landscapes. Wisconsin is home to several picturesque rail trails constructed from abandoned railroad corridors. One of my favorite rail…
Marquette Michigan, located on the southern shore of Lake Superior, is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Home to 20,000+ residents, the city is historically known for the shipping of iron ore through the Marquette Iron Range. Large vessels regularly pass through the ports of Marquette. This historic city on Lake Superior’s southern…
As winter transitions to spring, new life emerges. One of my favorite parts of spring is the emergences of native spring wildflowers. Wisconsin’s native spring wildflowers, also known as ephemerals due to their short-lived nature, appear in early spring before the leaf canopy has filled out. They are here for us to enjoy only for a few…