On October 1, 1890 thanks to the efforts of John Muir, over 750,000 acres surrounded by the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests became Yosemite National Park. The park is incredibly diverse and includes lakes, streams, granite cliffs, waterfalls, meadows, plants, towering trees, animals and much more. Yosemite Falls We visited in April, 2018 and the... Continue Reading →
Arms Raised to Joshua Tree National Park
At the convergence of the Colorado and Mojave desserts lies Joshua Tree National Park. My sister and niece recently visited this gorgeous park, which brought back some memories of my time there, which I will share with you today. The quiet, surreal beauty of the location will draw you in, and you will find yourself... Continue Reading →
Balboa Park, San Diego
It’s hard to beat sunny San Diego as a vacation destination with its brilliant blue shores, inviting, sandy beaches, lively neighborhoods, and temperate weather, but in my humble opinion, Balboa Park is the city’s crowning jewel. Originally known as “City Park” this gem has an interesting history dating back to the mid 1800s and offers... Continue Reading →
The Redwoods, Mighty, Majestic Trees
Sequoia sempervirens, also known as costal redwood and California redwood, are the tallest and largest trees on the planet. They once covered over 2 million acres in Northern California. Sadly, due to over-logging in the mid 1800s to early 1900s, they now cover only 131,983 acres. In 1918, the Save the Redwoods League was formed... Continue Reading →
National Park Service Founder’s Day
National Park Service Founder’s Day is celebrated on August 25th and is the day in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act, which was intended to provide protection for the national parks and their resources. In honor of this day, I’ll share some photos from the National Parks I have visited. Here in... Continue Reading →
Travel Photos of California
California became a state on September 9, 1850 and is home to the highest (Sierra Nevada Range) and the lowest (Death Valley) points in the contiguous United States. It has nine National Parks, more than any other state and is the birth place of Apple computers and the Barbie doll. There are beaches, mountains, deserts,... Continue Reading →
International Mountain Day
Today, December 11, is International Mountain Day, a day set aside to celebrate and recognize the dynamic ecosystems and importance of mountains. Global warming impacts mountains by melting glaciers, killing off plants, trees, animals and damaging the habitats of the people who live there. By increasing awareness and through conservation, hopefully we can preserve these... Continue Reading →
National Parks
In honor of National Parks Week, I am sharing some photos from the parks I have been to over the years. The National Park Service was established in 1916 and includes sixty one parks. These parks are national treasures and we need to preserve and protect them so they can be enjoyed by future generations.... Continue Reading →
Some Random Thoughts on COVID-19 and Sheltering in Place
Getting away in the spring is always a nice break from the hectic pace of life. In the past, our spring get-aways have included Galiano Island, BC, Canada; Orcas Island, WA; Yosemite National Park and wine tasting in Sonoma County, CA. This spring we had planned to go to Eastern Washington to visit wineries and... Continue Reading →