When in Rotorua, New Zealand, we decided to go take our adventure to new heights – a walk amongst the giants of the forest. The Rotorua Canopy Tours Redwoods Treewalk was our first-ever tree canopy experience, and it was a delightfully serene and surprisingly fun way to connect with nature from a unique perspective. The […]
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New South Wales, Australia, is a land of incredible natural beauty, and amongst its hidden gems lies Ellenborough Falls, one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in the Southern Hemisphere. Our recent visit was an adventure marked by persistent rain, endless steps, and the rewarding sight of a truly majestic cascade. The journey to the trailhead
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One of the most profound joys of travel is experiencing the world from a different perspective, and sometimes, that means simply looking up. About 5 days into our trip, we were finally in an area not surrounded by city lights. We were spending one night in Port Macquarie, Australia, in a charming square yurt-like tent
Seeing the Southern Sky for the First Time Read More »
The vast and ever-shifting landscape of the Stockton Sand Dunes in Port Stephens Australia is truly a sight to behold. Stretching for 32 kilometers along the coast of New South Wales, these are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, and we knew we wanted to experience their grandeur up close. An ATV
Our Stockton Dunes Quad Biking Adventure Read More »
The whisper started months before: an annular solar eclipse was gracing North America in October 2023, and the path of annularity – that magical zone where the “ring of fire” would be visible – was calling. For us the allure of this celestial event was irresistible, especially being so close — and we didn’t voyage
Ring of Fire: Witnessing the Annular Solar Eclipse in New Mexico Read More »
Tulsa, Oklahoma, might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of cosmic significance, but tucked away in its downtown area lies a quirky and intriguing spot known as the “Center of the Universe.” During our recent days exploring Tulsa, we sought out this unassuming landmark, and it quickly became a
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The allure of striking it rich, of unearthing a sparkling treasure from the earth, is a deeply human one. That’s what drew us to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas, the only diamond-bearing site in the world open to the public where you can dig for your own gems! Armed with rented shovels, screens,
A Day at Crater of Diamonds State Park Read More »
Kauai, the “Garden Isle” of Hawaii, is renowned for its lush landscapes, dramatic cliffs, and cascading waterfalls. But beyond the well-trodden paths, a unique and incredibly fun adventure awaits: floating down the historic irrigation ditches of a former sugar plantation with Kauai Backcountry Adventures. On a sunny Hawaiian day, we traded hiking boots for inner
Our Kauai Backcountry Tubing Adventure Read More »
The Utah desert stretched before us in waves of crimson and gold as we climbed into our rented side-by-side UTV from the Kanab Tour Company. Our destination: Peekaboo Slot Canyon, a hidden gem tucked into the BLM land north of town. What we didn’t fully anticipate was the journey it would take to get there.
Peekaboo Slot Canyon: Our Thrilling UTV Adventure Into the Red Desert Read More »
On a Friday afternoon in early April at 4 PM we left to visit 3 sites around Kanab, two we read about from other people’s blogs and one we found from a flyer made by the Kanab tourist center. Working our way north, our fist stop was Dinosaur Track trail, accessible by the small parking
Dinosaur Tracks, Moqui Caverns & Belly of the Dragon Hikes Read More »
About 90 minutes north east from Bisbee Arizona, is a national monument that took my breath away. Ok, so I didn’t research this monument before going, so I didn’t know what to expect; I love national parks and monuments so it didn’t really matter what was there….but pinnacles and trees hidden in the high desert
A Visit to Chiricahua National Monument Read More »
Itching to get out of the house, but hesitant to go someplace that had a lot of people, we decided to drive about 2 hours to Pawnee National Grassland (north of Ft. Morgan, East of Ft. Collins) and walk trail 601 to the Pawnee Buttes. Driving through the grasslands was not as exciting as I
A Walk to the Pawnee Buttes Read More »
We started the Freedom Trail at the Boston Commons, the oldest public park in the country. From the visitor center, you can easily find the red line trail, sometimes the trail is red paint, other times it is brick. Helpful Hints: We underestimated how long it would take us to do this trail, thinking it
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About 90 minutes southeast of Denver lies the remarkable Paint Mines Interpretive Park. This hidden gem in Colorado isn’t just a unique landscape; it holds tangible evidence of human activity dating back more than 9,000 years, making it an incredibly special place to stop and learn. What makes this park truly extraordinary is the sheer
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The Big Island of Hawaiʻi is a land of dramatic contrasts, from black lava fields to snow-capped peaks. But one of its most captivating features is its abundance of lush rainforests and stunning waterfalls. Because we love waterfalls, we set our sights on ʻAkaka Falls State Park, a relatively short but incredibly rewarding hike that
A quick hike to ‘Akaka Falls Read More »
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a raw, dynamic landscape, a testament to the powerful forces that have shaped and continue to shape the very islands. Our day hike in Hawaii Volcanos National Park visit was a sensory experience unlike any other, a journey through steaming vents, stark lava fields, and lush rainforests, all under the
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In June 2017, Justin and I embarked on a three-week Montana adventure that included visits to Bozeman and Missoula since we were thinking of moving up there. While there we knew we had to go to Glacier National Park because I love national parks and heard this one was beautiful. We settled into a cozy
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Kicking off our Montana road trip, we made our first stop at Pompey’s Pillar National Monument, about 25 miles east of Billings. With perfect weather and brilliant blue skies overhead, it was the ideal introduction to Big Sky Country. A Piece of Living History Pompey’s Pillar is more than just a striking sandstone formation rising
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There’s something magical about watching hot air balloons rise into the predawn sky. I’d witnessed it before at balloon festivals in Albuquerque and Colorado Springs, standing among crowds as dozens of colorful balloons inflated in the darkness, flames roaring to life, casting an otherworldly glow across the launch field. The collective gasp of spectators as
My First Hot Air Balloon Ride: Floating Above Napa Valley Read More »
I originally signed up for a hike at Fiery Furnace at Arches National Park. The park service offers this hike for $10 (in addition to park entry fees) but books up months in advance. Since I planned my trip only a month out, taking the tour with the park rangers was not an option, but several
Tower Arch Trail and overviews at Arches NP Read More »