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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Towering Red Rocks & Unexpected Detours: Our itinerary for 2 Days in Zion National Park There is a reason Zion National Park is on almost every hiker’s bucket list. The sheer scale of the canyon walls makes you feel incredibly small from the moment you enter. In May 2019, we spent an unforgettable 2 days
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Pink Sands & Broken Cameras: Our Scenic Loop to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park When you travel, sometimes the most memorable days are the ones where you have to completely pivot your plans. On our very first official day exploring Zion National Park, we started the morning with high hopes of wading through the
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park: An Afternoon Detour from Zion Read More »
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
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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
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Canyoneering at Morning Glory / Ephedra’s Grotto I’d spent just one day in Moab back in 2008, so this time I wanted to push myself beyond the typical scenic overlooks—especially since I was making the trip out here anyway. When my college friend said she’d join me, it felt like the perfect opportunity to try
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I was in Moab in 2008 but didn’t get to Canyonlands National Park so it was a must see this time around. Canyonlands is divided into three sections, Island in the Sky which is the most popular, the Needles about 60 miles south of Moab and the Maze which has no paved roads. You can’t pass through
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Having spent only a short few months living in Colorado, it felt like every single person I met had the same piece of advice: have you done the Hanging Lake hike? Hearing the constant praise for this legendary spot, I finally decided to see it for myself on September 30, 2014. I woke up early,
Hanging Lake Hike: A Strenuous Climb to a Turquoise Gem Read More »
Stumps of Stone: Pivoting to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument When your morning plans wrap up early, the open road always has a way of calling. Over Labor Day weekend in August 2014, I was visiting a friend and her family in the area. We spent a spectacular morning watching giant, colorful envelopes lift into
I was in Brazil for a work trip in October 2013, and two coworkers and I decided we’d take a few extra days to explore more of the area, specifically she wanted to see Iguazu Falls. Unfortunately, one couldn’t end up coming, but my other coworker and I carried on to enjoy a country we
Experiencing Iguazú Falls from both Brazil and Argentina Read More »
I’d heard about a fire walking event about two hours away. Even though it was something I desperately wanted to do, the combination of distance and terror meant I wasn’t about to show up alone among a group of strangers So I asked some guy to come with me- making it an unexpectedly intense second
Fire Walking: My 1,000-Degree Journey Across Hot Coals Read More »
Last weekend I tried ziplining…you know, in case I ever go on the Amazing Race, I need to have this skill. No, in all seriousness, I purchased a LivingSocial deal in October thinking it would be fun, and since it is on my list of things to do if I ever go to Costa Rica,
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