United States of America

Although I love to travel the big wide globe, the United States also has plenty of diversity to offer. If you travel from city to city and into our beautiful parks and rural areas, you will soon learn that each region of the country has its own culture, food, dialect, vibe, and attitude. Hope you enjoy some sites from my home country! Jump to: California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Maine, Virginia

Pennsylvania (My Home State)

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London...Paris...Franklin, Pennsylvania (a History Lesson)
London...Paris...Franklin, Pennsylvania (a History Lesson)

Hard to believe, but Franklin — a tiny town in western Pennsylvania — was the epicenter of international events on multiple occasions throughout history. French and British monarchies fought over this territory in the 1700s. Then the oil boom in the 1800s began here, forever changing history. This post gives visitors a quick history lesson…

Tourist Guide to My Hometown in Franklin, Pennsylvania
Tourist Guide to My Hometown in Franklin, Pennsylvania

A stroll through Franklin in Venango County, just north of Pittsburgh, PA is a leap back to an era when men wore top hats and women bustled about in ruffled skirts. It’s a place for outdoor lovers, shop-a-holics, antique collectors, and foodies. Please indulge me, as a I show you some of my hometown’s highlights. Franklin will steal your heart!

"The River Bears Witness"
"The River Bears Witness"

My attempt at creative fictional writing, inspired by my hometown of Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Arizona

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Arizona: Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Ride
Arizona: Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Ride

You know it's on your bucket list! When in Phoenix, a hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert is a terrific way to learn about the desert

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Arizona: Sedona
Arizona: Sedona

It is impossible to leave Sedona with anything resembling stress after several days in the calming embrace of brick-red and sandy-white cliffs, enormous puffy clouds lazily drifting across the deep blue sky, and the pine scent of ever-green trees! Aerial footage (drone video)...

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Arizona: Grand Canyon
Arizona: Grand Canyon

<Guest post by Caffrey Lee> I hiked round-trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up, staying overnight at Phantom Ranch along the Colorado River at the base of the canyon. The views between the two trails - South Kaibab and Bright Angel -- offer different perspectives. 

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California

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John Muir Trail: Days 1-5 Lyell Canyon to Reds Meadow
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 1-5 Lyell Canyon to Reds Meadow
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail

Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. First leg of our SOBO JMT hike: Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meado. Highlights: Lyell Canyon, Donahue Pass, Maries Lakes, Thousand Islands & Garnet Lakes, Mts. Lyell, Banner & Ritter, Shadow Lake, Devils Postpile, and Reds Meadow.

North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 6-9 Reds Meadow to Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 6-9 Reds Meadow to Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR)
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail

Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. 2nd leg of our SOBO JMT hike: Reds Meadow to Vermillion Valley Resort. Highlights: Duck Creek, Purple Lake, Virginia Lake, Tully Hole, Squaw Lake, Silver Pass, Lake Thomas Edison, and Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR).

North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 10-15 VVR to Golden Staircase
RTW 2022, United States, North America, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 10-15 VVR to Golden Staircase
RTW 2022, United States, North America, John Muir Trail

Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. Third MONSOON leg of our SOBO JMT hike: Vermillion Valley Resort to turn-around on the Golden Staircase. Highlights: Bear Creek, Selden Pass, Sallie Keyes, Muir Trail Ranch (MTR), Kings Canyon, Evolution Creek, Evolution Lake, Muir Pass, Le Conte Canyon, Golden Staircase.

RTW 2022, United States, North America, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 16-18 Bishop and Independence
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 16-18 Bishop and Independence
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail

Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. 4th leg of our SOBO JMT hike, actually off the trail in the Bishop area of the Sierras. Highlights: Bishop Pass, Long Lake, Parcher’s, Willow Creek Campground, Tyee Trail, and hitchhiking.

North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 19-24 Kearsarge Pass to Mt. Whitney Portal
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail: Days 19-24 Kearsarge Pass to Mt. Whitney Portal
North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail

Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. Last leg of our SOBO JMT hike: Onion Valley trailhead (Independence) to Mt. Whitney summit and portal. Highlights: Kearsarge Pass, Forrester Pass, Bighorn Plateau, Crabtree Meadow, Guitar Lake, Mt. Whitney, Lone Pine Lake, Trail Camp, Outpost Camp.

North America, RTW 2022, United States, John Muir Trail

Colorado

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14K Peak Bagging in Colorado to Acclimate for the John Muir Trail
RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes, North America
14K Peak Bagging in Colorado to Acclimate for the John Muir Trail
RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes, North America

Craving some altitude after pandemic confinement, we drove our van cross-country to Breckenridge, Colorado, living for 5 weeks at 10,000+ feet in preparation for a summer through-hike of the John Muir (JMT) Trail in California. Acclimating in Colorado, we discovered the joy of 14k peak bagging…

RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes, North America
Aspen's Maroon Bells to Crested Butte Trail: Gear Test for the John Muir Trail
North America, RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes
Aspen's Maroon Bells to Crested Butte Trail: Gear Test for the John Muir Trail
North America, RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes

Just 10 miles outside of Aspen, Colorado, is a special place called the Maroon Bells. After enjoying the thrill of 13k and 14k peak climbs in the Mosquito, Tenmile, and Sawatch Ranges of the Colorado Rockies, we needed to test our gear — and our mettle — on a longer multi-day hike. The Aspen to Crested Butte Trail was the perfect destination for our first over-nighter.

North America, RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes
Most Beautiful Colorado Hike: Ice Lakes in San Juan Mountains
North America, RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes
Most Beautiful Colorado Hike: Ice Lakes in San Juan Mountains
North America, RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes

This post details some of our favorite hikes near Silverton in the San Juan Mountains (Ice Lakes and Highland Mary) and near Breckenridge in the Rocky Mountain Tenmile Range (Mohawk Lakes, McCullough Gulch, Blue Lakes trails and Hoosier Pass). These are all day hikes between 10,000-12,500 feet encompassing glacial lakes, waterfalls, vast wildflower meadows, and snow fields lingering into July.

North America, RTW 2022, United States, Colorado Hikes

Maine: Acadia National Park

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Discover Acadia National Park in Maine, USA
Discover Acadia National Park in Maine, USA

Acadia makes up for its small size by offering visitors an unparalleled breadth of experiences for any age in near-perfect weather. Hiking, biking, running, kayaking, whale-watching, and lobster eating…what’s not to love??

Eastern Traverse in Acadia National Park: Fall in Love with Hiking Again
Eastern Traverse in Acadia National Park: Fall in Love with Hiking Again

For the jaded hiker weary of monotonous walks through unchanging woods, the Eastern Traverse puts the spark back into trekking. This hike is memorable for the diversity of landscapes and terrain you will encounter over an 11-mile stretch of Acadia National Park in Maine.

Virginia: (My Adopted Home State)

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Roadtrip! Chasing Waterfalls Across Virginia
Roadtrip! Chasing Waterfalls Across Virginia

Do you love waterfalls? How about a week long road trip through southern Virginia? We spent 6 nights camping and hiking along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Washington and Jefferson National Forests. This post details our driving, camping, and hiking itinerary — centered around seven major waterfalls — to inspire your next Virginia road trip.