The Allure of a Dunes World
Explore Colorado / Explore The Outdoors

The Allure of a Dunes World

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve fascinate me.  I’ve visited the dunes several times and each time, the largest sand dunes in North America against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains take my breath away.  With the shifting sand, it’s an ever changing landscape. On my most recent trip, as I was heading toward the … Continue reading

This Lake is a Real Gem – Hike to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park
Explore Colorado / Explore The Outdoors

This Lake is a Real Gem – Hike to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Gem Lake is a local’s favorite in Estes Park, Colorado. It is part of Rocky Mountain National Park but doesn’t have the crowds of Bear Lake and other popular lakes in the park.  I’ve hiked it multiple times, and well, it’s a true “gem” of a lake.  It’s a 3.4-mile round trip hike that starts … Continue reading

Sunset From Below Sea Level
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks

Sunset From Below Sea Level

Magical, stunning, spectacular, mesmerizing, fantastic, breathtaking – all wonderful ways to describe a sunset in Death Valley National Park.  But, watching sunset from 282 feet below sea level in Badwater Basin will leave you speechless. Standing in the lowest spot in North America and watching the sky turn from shades of yellow to pink and … Continue reading