Ever since I visited the Bureau of Engraving in Washington, DC when I was 9 years old, I’ve wanted to visit the US Mint in Philadelphia. But it’s never quite worked. No one really wanted to take a trip to…
An Evening at the Strong National Museum of Play
Not too far from home is an internationally renowned museum. The kind that gets into the Guinness Book of World Records (seriously!) Yet we rarely visit the Strong National Museum of Play. Why? It’s not for lack of interesting exhibits…
Fort Stanwix: The Hands-on Fort
For some reason, few people know about Fort Stanwix. I live within a few hours, yet I’d never heard of it until one day when I was looking for national public lands areas near my home. Then it went on…
A Day Canoe Trip in Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park has been one of those places I’ve always thought about going, but could never figure out a good reason to. For one thing, you really need a boat to see it (at least during the summer months),…
Celebrating 20 Years of Family Vacations
This week we’re celebrating 20 years of traveling together across the US! Wow! It’s been an exciting adventure together, and all the more exciting that we’re still (more or less) able to travel all together in the big green van…
Biking the Auburn Trail / Lehigh Valley Trail
A few weeks ago, I celebrated a birthday. It was a bit of a milestone, I suppose. Anyway, I decided that I’d like to really celebrate – like, something that lasted more than an hour or so. So it was…
Hole in the Rock: Scramble to Lake Powell!
I was shocked the other day when I found out that I’d never done a post on Hole in the Rock, at the end of Hole in the Rock Road in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (one of my favorite parks…
eBook Review: Hidden Gems of the Western United States
Imagine a travel book that overviews about 130 off-the-beaten-path destinations in the western US states? A book that gives historical, geological, and zoological information for a wide variety of parks that will pique the interest of almost anyone? That’s what…
How to Visit the Deception Pass Bridge for Free
Ever since I saw my first picture of the Deception Pass Bridge in northwestern Washington, I wanted to see it in person. There was something so uniquely interesting about the graceful spans, and knowing some of my group members pretty…
Hidden Lake Lookout: A Most Fabulous View!
Hidden Lake Lookout! What a trail that promised much and delivered more! The name evokes pictures in my mind of a half-frozen lake, rocky crags still studded with snow, and wildflowers galore along the trail. Its 9.3 mile length also…