Hike to the Petrified Forest in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Hike to the Petrified Forest in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota has the third highest concentration of petrified wood in the United States. A friend who lived in Medora for awhile suggested my cousin, Susan, and I do this hike while we were there exploring the national park. Getting There:  The trailhead is on the western side of the … Continue reading →

Cathedral Lake Hike Near Aspen, Colorado
Explore Colorado / Explore The Outdoors

Cathedral Lake Hike Near Aspen, Colorado

Cathedral Lake is an iconic wildflower hike in Colorado. But, be warned – it’s not easy. Forest Service rates it difficult and I agree, mainly because of a brutal switchback section. The effort is worth it to see wildflowers, waterfalls, stunning views of the Elk Mountain Range and a beautiful alpine lake. Cathedral Lake sits … Continue reading →

Shrine Ridge Trail: Hike off of I-70 on Vail Pass
Explore Colorado / Explore The Outdoors

Shrine Ridge Trail: Hike off of I-70 on Vail Pass

This is a hike known having tons of wildflowers. It’s been on my list for awhile and I finally did a solo hike to catch some of the last wildflowers before nature’s vibrant color palette turns to one of autumnal hues. This is a great solo hike, family hike or hiking with dogs. It was … Continue reading →

How to Spend 3 Days in Greater Zion Utah
3 Day Getaways / Explore America / Explore The Outdoors / Explore Utah

How to Spend 3 Days in Greater Zion Utah

My three-day adventure in Greater Zion starts in one of the lesser visited areas of the national park. Most visitors to Zion National Park only go to Zion Canyon to hike in the Narrows and do Angels Landing. This trip is all about going where the crowds don’t and experiencing The Greater Zion area to … Continue reading →

Exploring Fantasy Canyon near Vernal, Utah
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Monuments & Sites

Exploring Fantasy Canyon near Vernal, Utah

Fantasy Canyon near Vernal is unlike anywhere else I’ve visited in Utah. It’s filled with faces, animals and images created over time in the weathered sandstone rising out of the clay beds. The landscape looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. This is a place to let your imagination run wild as you … Continue reading →

5 Tips for a Perfect Leaf Peeping Road Trip
Explore America / Explore The Outdoors

5 Tips for a Perfect Leaf Peeping Road Trip

Recently I shared my 5 tips for a perfect leaf peeping road trip with multiple television stations from Denver to San Antonio. The fall foliage is peaking in the Rockies and New England, From Maine to Colorado to Texas, there’s plenty of leaf peeping season left. My favorite fall foliage map to check for partial … Continue reading →

Rock Art Tells Ancient Stories in Hueco Tanks near El Paso, Texas
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Rock Art Tells Ancient Stories in Hueco Tanks near El Paso, Texas

Religious masks, geometric designs, animals, and people wearing intricate headdresses are painted are the rocks.  You have to slide under rock overhangs, climb up to shelters and squeeze between boulders to see them.  Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site is unique in how its rock paintings tell the stories of ancient people.  The pictographs … Continue reading →

Two Hikes in a Day along Colorado’s Front Range – Horsetooth and Devil’s Backbone
Explore Colorado

Two Hikes in a Day along Colorado’s Front Range – Horsetooth and Devil’s Backbone

Want to do two very different hikes in a day? It’s easy along Colorado’s Front Range. My hometown friend Danny came into Denver with a goal to log some miles. Since the High Country continues to be covered in snow I suggested we do something along the Front Range. My pick – Horsetooth Rock in … Continue reading →