Hike

  • Hike,  Places

    Hawaii

    Hawaii is one of my favorite places. I have been to Oahu, Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. Picking a favorite island is nearly impossible since each island is so different and each has such a different vibe. When visiting the islands be sure to NOT act like a typical tourist. Do NOT race from one place to another and try to see everything. Take your time, savor the flavor and feel of the islands, talk with locals (really take time to enjoy their company), and take time to do nothing but enjoy the tranquility. Above all, be respectful of the land and of the people. Here are some of my…

  • Hike,  Places

    Sedona, AZ

    Sedona is an amazing place with red rocks, impressive geological monuments, and other amazing sights. Activities include hiking, off-roading, biking, and normal tourist activities including shopping, art galleries, museums, and dining. Sedona is a wealthy area where many of affluent and entertainment figures frequent. I normally do not enjoy the overpriced tourist locations but Sedona had a lot more to offer. Sedona has much to offer and you could spend many weeks seeing all the sights. Here are just a few of the things to see and do in Sedona. Tlaquepaque Tlaquepaque (T-la-keh-pah-keh) is a art and shopping community in the heart of Sedona. Tlaquepaque looks like an old Spanish…

  • Hike,  Places

    Hawaii: Oahu

    Oahu has many famous sites including Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, etc. When I visit Hawaiian Islands I like to enjoy the natural places and the people. The big, bustling city of Honolulu is not my idea of Hawaii but many tourists flock there. Oahu has much to offer besides the big city. I particularly enjoyed the sites and history at Pearl Harbor. This is a “must see” place. I also enjoyed the climb to the top of Diamond Head and the spectacular views. Another favorite was the trail to the Makapu’u Lighthouse. Here are some of my favorite places on Oahu. Diamond Head, Oahu: (full article) The…

  • Hike,  Places

    Grand Teton, WY

    Grand Teton National Park is adjacent to the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. If you in the area then this is a “must see” park. The Grand Teton mountains, lakes, and rivers are simply spectacular. Cameras cannot do justice to places like Grand Teton. The park has a loop road that starts at Jackson Lake. You may want to follow this driving tour of the park. Most of this information was taken from the Drive Tour handout available from the Visitor Center. Colter Bay Visitor Center: Ask the rangers for suggestions when hiking, sightseeing, or camping. The rangers know their stuff and are a wealth of valuable information. Willow…

  • Hike,  Places

    Grand Canyon

    Many years ago I did some solo road trips that started in Garden Grove, CA and went through Las Vegas, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Bryce Canyon, Zion, etc. I did similar road trips two consecutive years (circa 1985 and 1986) and spent three nights on the floor of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon is a place that you see in photos and movies but you cannot truly experience it until you see it in person. I started these road trips after Thanksgiving and these places were cold, quiet, and devoid of crowds. I had seen the canyon many times in photos and movies but being there was completely different.…

  • Hike,  Places

    Taft Point & Sentinel Dome, CA

    These are two of the coolest places and you can see both in a single half-day hike. This loop hike is a must see. You could complete this hike in a couple of hours but you will want to spend a fair bit of time at each location soaking in the views and taking photos. Be sure you have a camera for this hike and be sure to carry bear spray for protection. At the parking area you are faced with a tough choice. The trail to the right goes to Sentinel Dome and the trail to the left goes to Taft Point. Each trail is 1.1 miles one-way and…

  • Hike,  Places

    Ecola Park & Cannon Beach, OR

    Two spectacular places on the Oregon Coast are Ecola Park and Cannon Beach situated about 25 miles from the northern border of Oregon. The road to Ecola Park is at the northern end of the city of Cannon Beach. When taking the coast drive these are definitely two places to stop and take photos. Part of the Goonies was also filmed here. If you are on a goonie trek, then you will have to stop here. From Hwy-101 take the road to Ecola Park. This pleasant road winds through an old growth forest with lots of very large trees. Take the road at a reasonable speed as it is quite…

  • Hike,  Places

    Yosemite, CA

    Yosemite is one of those truly magical places that must be experienced in person. My family went there regularly when I was growing up but I had not been back for many years. My son and I went there in 2015 and even though I went there many times in the past it seemed new again. We went right before the main summer rush so there were lots of tourists but we avoided the main tourist onslaught. I forgot how the granite walls tower above you when viewed from the valley. The sights in Yosemite simply cannot be adequately captured with a camera. You lose the scale and grandeur of…

  • Hike,  Places

    Kananaskis

    When we visit the Banff area we always stay a timeshare in Canmore. Canmore is a very nice town. It is most definitely a tourist town but it is a very nice one. The downtown has lots of nice shops, eating places, galleries, etc. Banff is way too large and crowded for me but Canmore is just the right size. On the west side of Canmore is a long loop road that goes by Spray Lakes and on to Kananaskis. To get there take Three Sisters Drive and turn on Spray Lakes Road. Take Hwy-742 (Smth-Darrien Highway) to Kananaskis. This is a gravel road but it is wide, well traveled,…

  • Hike,  Places

    Johnston Canyon

    Johnston Canyon is a very cool trail that should not be missed. It is less than 2 miles to the upper waterfall with not much elevation gain. This hike is extremely popular and the large parking easily overflows during tourist season. I like getting photos without people in them so we started the hike a little later in the day to avoid the majority of the crowds. There are lots of things to see on this hike including several waterfalls. I recommend bringing a good camera, tripod, and hiking daypack with emergency supplies. This hike has lots to see. The well groomed and well traveled trail includes catwalks that hug sheer rock…