Joshua Tree National Park in California has become one of our favorite go-to trips - either as a day trip or for a last minute weekend getaway. Through our many visits, we have found a few trails that we return to…
Guatemala is a small country with a lot of volcanoes, at least 36 of them actually. At any time there is usually one that is active which makes hiking an active volcano the top of most people's Guatemala wish list.…
Before moving to Los Angeles, hiking wasn't on our regular rotation of things to do. However, we quickly learned that it was *the* thing to do in LA. With limited funds and a desire to explore as much of this…
California is home to 28 national parks and sites scattered throughout the state. From the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite, to the desolate in Death Valley and the big trees in the North at the Redwoods, there is no shortage…
If you are like most people, you have heard of the Mojave Desert, but your association might be limited to images of barren landscapes dotted with military bases. The Mojave definitely represents some of this, but it also has so much…
What do you think of when you hear Death Valley? Hottest Place on Earth. Yep. Desolate and barren. Yep. Even though Death Valley is synonymous with these images, I think that like most people, I didn't really have a clear…
Everyone seems to know that California has an abundance of national parks, but what some don't realize is that there are also a ton of really great state parks that are well worth visiting. One such park, nicknamed Pismo Beach…
Ever since I first visited Ireland in 2004 I have wanted to get to the north to see the Giant's Causeway. Even though my husband was born and bred in Dublin he had never made the 3 hour journey to the…
Last summer we took a 10 day road trip through Arizona and Utah with our family friends from Texas. While researching that trip I came across Dinosaur National Monument in northern Utah and western Colorado. We weren’t planning to be…
The Bay Area is one of my favorite places on earth. Not just because I lived there for almost a decade, but because no matter where you turn you are surrounded by so much beauty. The abundance of beautiful scenery,…
A visit to the Big Island of Hawaii isn't complete without a trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Having the opportunity to see a real live active volcano in person was one of the main reasons in going to Hawaii…
Did you notice this year's Tournament of Roses Parade theme? Have you seen the commercials? If so, you probably already know that 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the national parks system. If not, it's a huge deal and is…
Every month Charles Fleming, the author of the popular Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles and Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles hosts a walk somewhere in Los Angeles. Some walks are…
Driving back from Yosemite, not quite ready for our trip to end, we checked the map to see if there was anywhere else we could stop for a day or two. It was then that we realized how close we…
India is one of those places that so many people dream of visiting. However, that dream often dies when children come on the scene. Everyone says "NO, you can't go to India with kids!" Actually, you can. I won't lie, a trip to…
Zion National Park is known for one of it's most beautiful and distinctive hikes, the Narrows. It brings visitors of all ages, shapes and forms. What is the Narrows? It is a "trail" through the middle of the Virgin River leading you…
Malibu Creek State Park is a favorite weekend destination for hikers and bicyclists throughout the Los Angeles area. It also happens to be the closest campground to downtown LA, which makes its a great camping destination for families looking for an…
Zion National Park is one of the best kept secrets of the national park system. When visitors discover the beauty and magic of Zion Canyon, they will be hooked! It doesn't have that one eye catching feature that sells postcards or…
Road tripping is the quintessential American summer vacation. We joined the masses this year with a 10 day road trip through Arizona and Utah. Every year, (OK, this is only year 2, but we hope it continues for many years to come!), we…
Exploring the ruins of San Pedro's Sunken City has been on my to do list for a while. I was a bit nervous about doing it on my own with my son, so I had to find a time when…