Tag: camping

  • Traveling the Northern Rockies – A Video

  • Glacier National Park and the Northern Rockies

    Summer vacation began and ended with vegan pizza.  Specifically, vegan pizza at Allie’s Vegan Pizza in Spokane, Washington.  Even though it sounds weird, the mac and cheese pizza was fantastic, especially when dipped in ranch.  After a late arrival, our first real day of vacation included lots of driving, fueled with breakfast by Casual Friday…

  • Midwest National Parks – Part 3

    Midwest National Parks – Part 3

    We then made our way to Minneapolis, Minnesota to the visitors center for Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.  There were several areas along the river we could have visited, but we unfortunately did not have enough time.  We took a very short walk along the river, and spent some time in the visitors center,…

  • Midwest National Parks – Part 2

    Midwest National Parks – Part 2

    The next day we drove to Keweenaw National Historical Park.  A park site that we really knew nothing about, besides a cursory glance at the website when we planned the trip, as always we were pleasantly surprised by how informative and interesting this site was.  We began our trip at the Quincy Unit where we…

  • Midwest National Parks – Part 1

    Midwest National Parks – Part 1

    The theme of our summer vacation was twofold: we need kayaks and beavers changed the path of American history. For vacation this summer, Anthony and I decided to loop through Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and a little of Missouri.  Our industrious plan covered 18 National Park Sites.  Collecting stamps, magnets, and park brochures,…

  • Congaree National Park

    Congaree National Park

      Though Congaree National Park is only about three hours from our home, we had yet to visit it together – and I had never been there.  Congaree is a smaller National Park, but full of diverse plant and animal life.  Designated to protect wetland and old growth bottomland forest, many of Congaree’s visitors see…

  • Yosemite National Park

    Yosemite National Park

    Our next stop was Yosemite National Park.  We spent over a week there, part of it backpacking, and part of it with my parents – who were gracious enough to plan a vacation to Yosemite and then invite us along!  Yosemite is crowded, the valley is mobbed, especially in the middle of summer, but there…

  • Northern California

    We left the cool weather of the Bay Area behind, and headed north to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, where temperatures soared over 100 degrees.  Most come to Whiskeytown to enjoy the lake, and we were no exception.  We went swimming twice, once at Crystal Creek Falls, and then again in Whiskeytown Lake.  Since the temperature…

  • Cumberland Island National Seashore

    When I first heard about Cumberland Island National Seashore, it seemed like a magical place full of wild ponies, sea birds, maritime forests, and peaceful beaches.  The reality was that magical. On our drive to St. Mary’s, Georgia we stopped for dinner at Tios in Columbia, South Carolina.  They served meat and vegetarian food, but…

  • Shining Rock Wilderness

    A few months ago we hiked the beautiful Shining Rock Wilderness, located on the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. We went from Black Balsam to the top of Cold Mountain, enjoying the amazing views the whole way. Carrie is a huge fan of the novel Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, so she was thrilled…