Two decades ago, my wife took a family vacation to the Oregon coast. Last week, my wife and I took a couple’s road trip to the same coast. She talked about a beautiful botanical garden we had to visit. We made sure Shore Acres State Park was on our itinerary, and we were so glad…
My wife and I spent a day exploring Crater Lake National Park. From the magnificent viewpoints of the lake, to hiking through the dense forest, Crater Lake has hikes for just about any level of hiker. Here’s a rundown of the best hiking trails at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Tips to Help You…
While driving Scenic Byway 12 in Utah, you may expect to see a runaway train hurdling through the towering orange rocks. No, you didn’t transport to the line at Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain, although Utah’s Red Canyon looks exactly like it – minus the runaway train. As a kid, I traveled through Red Canyon often…
I’m not sure why people are drawn to lighthouses. I’m not talking about the sailors who would use them to navigate and stay safe. It’s clear why they would be drawn to them. Haha! But there is something about the beauty of a lighthouse, standing tall on the shoreline as a beacon – day or…
Kayak at Sand Hollow State Park and enjoy one of the many activities available in southern Utah. I’ve been there with my kids, and on another occasion my wife to enjoy a day on the water during a couple’s weekend. If you’re looking for some year-round fun on the water, add “kayak at Sand Hollow…
Most people flock to Island in the Sky at Canyonlands National Park. It’s near Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. But driving the extra distance to explore The Needles District of the park is totally worth it. And there are great trails for kids, and ones the adults can enjoy, too. The…
Kodachrome Basin State Park is a short 30-minute drive east of Bryce Canyon National Park. It offers a variety of hiking trails in landscapes boasting a variety of colors, rock formations and wildflowers. If you stop in the visitor’s center to grab a souvenir, I caution you: Paul Simon’s song, Kodachrome, may end up stuck…
I’ve always wanted to hike The Narrows in Zion National Park in southern Utah. For one reason or another, it wasn’t until this summer I was able to make it happen. My wife and I experienced it a couple of weekends ago and learned a few valuable things to help others maximize their trek up…
Sand dunes are great. But since I don’t own an off-highway vehicle (OHV) or all-terrain vehicle (ATV), I wasn’t sure I would enjoy a visit to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab, Utah. After spending a few hours hiking the dunes, sledding the slopes and photographing the landscape, I discovered a spot…
Renoir. Monet. Degas. Cezanne. Rodin. Those are a few of the amazing artists featured in this Paris art museum – the Musee D’Orsay. Before becoming a museum in the 1980s, it was a magnificent train station in the heart of Paris. The building itself is a work of art, both inside and out. On the…
