I wanted to climb Wheeler Peak. It’s not just that I liked the pictures others had taken from the top – I figured climbing the highest point in New Mexico would be fun. It would be an accomplishment. It would…
Pueblos, Lizards, and More on the Pueblo Alto Loop
There are members of my group who have wanted to hike the Pueblo Alto Loop for about 23 years. That was when they saw a photo of Pueblo Bonito on the cover of their AAA road map and decided to…
12 Epic Hikes of the Western United States, Part 3
Or, 12 Dayhikes You Should Take With Your Kids Before They’re Grown Today we have another collection of Epic Hikes in the Western US! This time our man is middle-age, highly creative, full of energy and fun, and was the…
10 of the Best Free Historical Sites in America
I don’t necessarily seek out historical places to visit – it’s often an outcome of being in the area and on a whim stopping by (like the Flume Trail or Warren Peak, both in Wyoming). Other times we do go…
10 Places to Go Exploring in the Western US
Trails are nice, trails are great. I like trails (especially trails that lead to and through spectacular views!) But there comes a time when the inner anti-establishment in us all decides it would like a bit of freedom – and…
Top 10 Pages on Anne’s Travels in 2014
So I thought I’d post the pages on Annestravels.net that were most-visited during 2014. I know, I know, it’s not even 2015 yet. But considering the numbers, I don’t think much will change in the next week and a half…
Looking Back at Family Hike Reviewing History
This week, I was going through some old files on my computer and ran across a document with some of my siblings’ compositions we’d written for school in the early 2000s. This document contained several reviews of parks we’d recently…
The Wilds of the White Sands
Many people think of White Sands National Monument as a place to spend an hour or less driving the scenic drive and enjoying the peacefulness of the sand – or a place for kids (and kids at heart) to have…
Rustic Hoodoos Like No Others in Bisti Wilderness
In a previous post, I talked about Bisti National Wilderness, where you can wander for miles without any trails to keep you from experiencing the formations. However, after my most recent jaunt across the Wilderness, I realized that there is…
The White Sands Missile Range
To continue last week’s post about White Sand Dunes National Monument, I want to talk about another attraction just a few miles down the highway from White Sands. After going out of the park and traveling west, there is a…