In August, we “just happened” to be driving through Colorado on Colorado Day, when the state parks in the state offer free admission. I’d always wanted to check out State Forest State Park (who wouldn’t, with a memorable name like…
Buttermilk Falls, Mendham NJ: Lovely Swimming Hole and Hiking
On a hot day when there’s rain (but no thunder) in the forecast, it’s nice to stay near home and find a cool place to get wet, right? That’s why I visited Buttermilk Falls last week when I was visiting…
Horseshoe Mesa Loop, pt. 4: East Horseshoe Mesa Trail
In the last several posts I’ve been chronicling my trek around Horseshoe Mesa in the Grand Canyon. There’s only one last segment to go: the trail that connects the Tonto Trail to the Grandview Trail near the Last Chance Mine…
Horseshoe Mesa Loop, pt. 2: Horseshoe Mesa
If you decide to hike the Grandview Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, the only way I can recommend it is if you go another couple miles (3+ km) out onto Horseshoe Mesa. This is where the “grand views” really…
The Best Hikes in Big Bend
After having visited Big Bend numerous times over the past several years, I thought I’d share what I’ve found to be the best hikes in Big Bend National Park, and which trails are overrated. Then, I thought, What if someone…
Rare History at Aladdin Tipple
Sometimes trips don’t go as planned. Sometimes even the best plans don’t work out. That’s what happened on a recent trip to the Northwest US. After a week of beautiful weather, it was raining – and the forecast said it…
Grand Canyon Rim Viewpoints
Usually, I write about hiking. Long hikes to awesome views and pretty places all over the US. However, when I’m traveling, I don’t always hike. Sometimes, the best views are to be seen without hiking, and this can be terrific…
Mariscal Mine: Big Bend’s Mercury Mine
In an out-of-the-way corner of Big Bend National Park, there is an attraction that, although visited, would probably be a huge attraction if it was along a main road and in a heavily-visited national park. However, because it’s along a…
The Serengeti in the US: Saratoga Springs
In the far south-east part of Death Valley National Park is a dirt road. That’s no big surprise, as there are lots of dirt roads in this section of the park, but on this particular dirt road is another dirt…
See Amazing Mining History First-Hand in Creede
Most people have probably never heard of Creede, Colorado, unless they are theatre buffs or mining fanatics. In other words, most people who’ve heard of the little town of Creede in western Colorado know about it because of the Creede…