47 Parks
There’s something special about a serene river surrounded by an immense meadow, surrounded by blue-gray mountains. Like Russian nesting dolls, the intricate scenery just keeps going. I was above 8,000 feet, in an area of Yosemite known as Tuolumne (too-all-uh-me) Meadows. It was an absolutely beautiful place, unlike anything I had yet seen … Read more
47 Parks
Up, up, up.
Hand over hand, one foot in front of the other.
I took a break to wipe my face, hoping to prevent the sunscreen I had just applied from going into my eyes. The sun was hot, but the strong breeze blowing from the north side made me feel less like a pastry … Read more
47 Parks
20 Parks to Visit in 2020 (& when to go)
For me, 2019 has been a year of contentment. I took a road trip around Croatia and Italy, exploring many fantastic outdoor spaces. I also found places close to home that captured my interest and revisited some old American favorites. Despite my wanderlust, … Read more
47 Parks
Returning to a favorite national park feels like coming home.
I drove only a few miles into the Smokies and was met with waves of nostalgia. I remember that trailhead! That huge majestic willow tree looks familiar!
My last visit to the park had involved multiple adventures over the course of a week. I trekked … Read more
Spaces & Places
I had thoroughly appreciated my time at Plitvice Lakes, enjoying the cascading waterfalls, lush landscape, and unique topography. Krka National Park is very similar, so many Croatia travelers choose to only visit one or the other.
I wanted to see both.
Throughout all of my journeys, I have come to realize that natural settings … Read more
Spaces & Places
A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a well-taken photo of a beautiful natural place can leave you speechless. It was the above picture of Plitvice Lakes National Park that first drew me towards Croatia and filled me with a sense of wonder towards this unique Balkan country.
Further research revealed that visiting … Read more
Spaces & Places
My first day in Paklenica National Park was impressive. I was able to tackle a bunch of climbs that whet my appetite for bigger and better things.
I decided it was time to climb a little* higher and a little** harder.
* 450 feet ** one whole climbing grade
And so the following morning, I … Read more
Spaces & Places
The sheer size of the rock faces on either side of me was gloriously overwhelming. The early morning sun had yet to rise high enough to light up the canyon, resulting in a shadowy peacefulness as I slowly made my way deeper into the park. The small babbling river to my right was deceiving; it’s … Read more
Spaces & Places
Most of my summer travel plans occur in the late throes of winter, when I’m snowbound in my apartment or simply tired of the wet, dreary weather. This past year was no exception. I began vigorously researching in early March, needing a distraction from the seasonal doldrums. It was then that I stumbled upon Croatia.… Read more
Guatemala
It was slow-going. For each step that I took, I slid down half of a pace. The loose rubble crunched under my hiking boots, and I was glad that I had worn such sturdy shoes to traipse across the rugged, winding terrain. I felt the heat acutely, both from the sun shining down overhead and … Read more