Hike to Fortynine Palms Oasis
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Hike to Fortynine Palms Oasis

Joshua trees are known for their spiky leafed, branches reaching for the heavens are ubiquitous in most of Joshua Tree National Park, but not on this trail.  The elevation is too low for the yuccas (Joshua trees don’t have rings so they are not really trees).  Instead, you’ll find palm trees in this secluded oasis … Continue reading →

Joshua Tree’s Most Dangerous Hike
Explore The Outdoors / Explore The Parks / U.S. National Parks

Joshua Tree’s Most Dangerous Hike

It’s Joshua Tree National Park’s most dangerous hike.  Not because of the extreme heat, rattlesnakes, or rugged terrain, but because of the “teddy bear” cactus.  It sounds cuddly, but it’s not.  You are literally surrounded by cacti in the Cholla Cactus Garden.  It’s one of the shortest hikes in Joshua Tree, but could easily be … Continue reading →

Anything But Swampy on the Swamp Rabbit Trail
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Anything But Swampy on the Swamp Rabbit Trail

I love exploring my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.  This trip I decided to venture out from downtown on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.  It’s a 19.9 multi-use trail that follows an old railbed.  I started out at Falls Park on the Reedy River. Falls Park is one of my favorite spots in Greenville. On a … Continue reading →

Crystal Mill
Explore Colorado / Explore The Outdoors

Crystal Mill

Precariously perched on a rock outcropping on the Crystal River is a mining powerhouse dating back to 1893. Crystal Mill is one of the most iconic photographed spots in Colorado. The picturesque place had eluded me for years, partly because it has to be your destination.  It’s between Glenwood Springs and Crested Butte.  The closest town … Continue reading →

Exploring Buffalo Bayou Park
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Exploring Buffalo Bayou Park

On a beautiful Sunday morning, I headed out to explore one of Houston’s green spaces – Buffalo Bayou Park.  With miles of paved trails, it’s a popular walking, running, and biking spot.  I headed out early on this urban adventure to beat the heat and the crowds. Buffalo Bayou Park is a ten-mile stretch from … Continue reading →

Three Sisters Park
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Three Sisters Park

Two of my cousins, Susan and Elizabeth, introduced me to this hike.  Part of their childhood was spent in Evergreen, Colorado.  It’s a delightful town nestled in the Foothills and just 45 minutes from Denver.  A hike in Three Sisters gives you a variety of scenery from open meadows to granite boulder formations to hiking … Continue reading →

Solitude in Galveston
Explore Texas / Explore The Outdoors

Solitude in Galveston

I found solitude in Galveston.  As the sun was coming up, I headed to the western part of the island seeking the refuge of Galveston Island State Park. I wanted to log a couple of easy miles in the marshland.  On a very windy, but beautiful morning, I found solitude on the trails. It was … Continue reading →

The Blowing Rock
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The Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock in North Carolina is special to me. As a child, it was the first place my parents let me pack my own suitcase…which of course included everything from a bathing suit to a coat so I’d be ready for anything. Two things I love about Blowing Rock – it’s legend and the fact … Continue reading →