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”Park Views: Rock Creek Park’s Miller Cabin
Those who’ve traveled through Rock Creek Park just north of Military Road may have seen a small wood structure set between the creek and Beach Drive. It’s known as Miller Cabin, and it provides a unique glimpse into DC’s past. But why is it even here? Let’s take a closer look.
Continue reading “Park Views: Rock Creek Park’s Miller Cabin”Going For A Walk: The Jersey Shore
Even though I grew up in New Jersey, I never felt particularly connected to the shore in the way some people I knew were. I had friends whose parents rented the same house in the same town for two weeks every summer. When I was very young, my grandparents had a shore house. My aunt and uncle have had a home in Ortley Beach for years, where they spend half of their time these days. Still, anyone who’s lived in New Jersey knows there are “shore people.” I am not one of them.
Continue reading “Going For A Walk: The Jersey Shore”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”The Ultimate Guide to Amtrak Cross-Country Travel
It was one of the original methods for bridging the vast expanses of a young United States – the railroad. The age of the freeway and discount air travel may have ended rail’s status as top dog in the travel world. But train travel is still very much alive for those willing to seek out a little adventure. Long-distance and cross-country rail travel can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget. But if you’re like many people intrigued by the idea, the logistics may be holding you back. We’re taking a look at everything you need to know for a successful and fun trip on Amtrak cross-country.
Can You Travel Cross-Country By Amtrak Train?
Yes, and no. Let me explain.
Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Amtrak Cross-Country Travel”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: Piney Branch Parkway
If you drive through Northwest Washington, DC, chances are you may have found yourself on Piney Branch Parkway, an offshoot of the more well-known Beach Drive. It’s a nice drive, but how does it measure up on foot? We’re taking a closer look in today’s Park Views.
Continue reading “Park Views: Piney Branch Parkway”Three Neat Tricks To Drive Yourself Crazy Planning an RV Trip
I honestly don’t remember when I first got into the idea of a long-term RV trip, but I think it probably came sometime in 2019. I had taken about six months off in late 2018 where I traveled from DC to Los Angeles via three Amtrak trains, and drove almost 2,000 miles from West Texas through New Mexico and Arizona to Las Vegas, with trips in between to Kentucky, the Florida Keys, and Pittsburgh (on a week where low-temperature records were shattered.) The west, particularly the southwest, is intoxicating. I think growing up in the suburbs at the edge of the woods on a mountain in northern New Jersey (where you can barely see the end of your block) makes the allure of wide-open spaces particularly captivating.
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”