Together We Wander

Tag: hiking

  • 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…

  • Lake Mead NRA and Las Vegas

    Nightime found us in Las Vegas, where we were eager to check out dining options at the Wynn Hotel.  Steve Wynn is vegan and we had heard that every dining establishment at the hotel has vegan options.  We found this to be true and stuffed ourselves on Wynn burgers, fries, and milkshakes at one of…

  • Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Mojave National Preserve

    Our next stop was Cabrillo National Monument.  In our quest to earn certificates from the National Park Travelers Club, we wanted to visit again to get the stamps – and to get the lighthouse stamp.  Cabrillo is a beautiful spot, so it’s not hard to convince us to visit again!  Beautiful views of San Diego…

  • Coronado National Memorial and Tumacacori National Historical Park

    The next morning we drove to Coronado National Memorial.  Coronado commemorates not only the expedition of the man for whom the park is named, but also the influences of Spanish exploration in the Americas.  Practically straddling the Mexican/U.S. border, Coronado offers hiking trails and panoramic views towards the border.  After a stop at the visitors…

  • Saguaro National Park

    Our next national park stop was Saguaro.  Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections, West – Tucson Mountain District and East – Rincon Mountain District.  We visited both districts that afternoon, taking drives through as much of both as we could.  It would be great to come back and spend more time hiking in…

  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

    Back in July, we were able to take a vacation out west, but life in general (especially the home buying process!) got in the way of me finishing this post.  We decided to rent a car in Phoenix and drive in a large circle, stopping at NPS sites in southern Arizona, then heading to San…

  • 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…

  • The Island of Maui

    The day after our wedding, Anthony and I flew from Honolulu to the island of Maui. Maui, true to what we had been told, is a completely different place than the bustling island of Oahu. In Honolulu, we had dealt with endless traffic and congestion, but on Maui the pace was slower, more leisurely, and…