Monday Morning Moment: Truth or Consequences, NM
Good Morning. Truth or Consequences is a small, south-central New Mexico town with a big name. It’s also got a surprising amount of charm, style, and fun – not to mention some of the most underrated hot springs in the country. We’re taking a trip there today in our Monday Morning Moment.
Continue reading “Monday Morning Moment: Truth or Consequences, NM”Cape May Lighthouse and the Lost City of South Cape May – State Park Spotlight
At the very southwestern tip of New Jersey, you’ll find the Cape May Lighthouse. The 157-foot tower has protected ships in the area for more than a century and a half, and seen the rise and fall of military defenses and even an entire town! So let’s take a walk and learn more about this structure and the area that surrounds it.
Continue reading “Cape May Lighthouse and the Lost City of South Cape May – State Park Spotlight”Monday Morning Moment: Lauritzen Gardens
Good morning. If you’d like to see one of Japan’s natural wonders but can’t make it across the Pacific, try Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, NE. The botanical gardens include 100 acres of year-round plant displays, including this part of the Japanese Garden.
Continue reading “Monday Morning Moment: Lauritzen Gardens”Monday Morning Moment: Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Good morning. This picture was taken along Wildlife Drive at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Florida, in March 2019.
Sanibel is really a unique place within Florida and the United States. In a different universe, developers covered the island in high rises, chain restaurants, and waterparks, all taking advantage of the unbelievable beaches and world-renowned shelling. But it isn’t. There are a few larger condo buildings and resorts, sure, but they’re low and spread out. By and large, the island remains gloriously unspoiled. There are no stoplights, almost all local stores and restaurants, and a vast amount of preserved nature. Ding Darling is part of this.
Continue reading “Monday Morning Moment: Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge”Monday Morning Moment: Near Gilroy, CA
Good morning. This picture was taken from an Amtrak Coast Starlight train south of Gilroy, CA, in September 2018.
The Coast Starlight runs all the way from Seattle to Los Angeles. Over a day and a half, it passes through some incredible scenery, including these fields at the southern edge of the Santa Clara Valley. The entire ride is one of the best ways to see the incredible and varied geography of the west coast. It’s also a great route to connect a cross-country Amtrak trip arriving in Portland, Seattle, Emeryville/San Francisco, or Los Angeles to other cities up and down the coast.
Continue reading “Monday Morning Moment: Near Gilroy, CA”State Park Spotlight: Calvert Cliffs State Park
For some of the Chesapeake Bay’s most dramatic and distinctive coastal scenery, head down to southern Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs State Park. It’s a trip to the beach and a trip back in time, all rolled into one outing.
Continue reading “State Park Spotlight: Calvert Cliffs State Park”4 Days in Big Bend: A West Texas Road Trip Pt. 2
This is part two of our four-day Big Bend road trip through West Texas. If you missed it, here’s part one, with days 1 and 2 of the trip.
West Texas Road Trip Day 3: Terlingua to Marfa (122 Miles)
Good morning! Hope you got up early to check out one of those famous West Texas sunrises.
Continue reading “4 Days in Big Bend: A West Texas Road Trip Pt. 2”
4 Days In Big Bend: A West Texas Road Trip
A long weekend road trip to Big Bend that’ll have you coming back for years to come.
It’s called Big Bend for a reason – people aren’t kidding when they say everything is bigger in Texas. Also known as Far West Texas or Transpecos, it’s larger than South Carolina. Still, it is home to fewer than a hundred thousand people outside the populous El Paso metro. The area is defined by the beautiful, desolate Chihuahuan Desert, North America’s largest, and the sweeping bend in the Rio Grande that gives the region its name. And remote doesn’t even begin to describe most parts of the area. No matter where you are, you’re practically a few hours from anywhere.
All of these issues mean most Americans (and even many Texans) have never made the trek. But they’re missing out on some of the state’s most unbelievable natural beauty, quirkiest small towns, and authentic border culture. With just a few days, you can get a taste of the region that’ll have you coming back for more again and again.
Continue reading “4 Days In Big Bend: A West Texas Road Trip”Park Views: A Walk To Boulder Bridge
I walked to Boulder Bridge along Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park today. It’s one of my favorite areas of the park and gave me a great chance to mess around with my new GoPro.
Continue reading “Park Views: A Walk To Boulder Bridge”A Walk at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Just a few blocks from a freeway and five miles from the U.S. Capitol sits Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. This small, often-ignored park is one of the most unique in the DC area, and is a great choice for an afternoon of easily accessible outdoor exploring.
Continue reading “A Walk at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens”