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Category: Hiking
Finding calm lakeside, enjoying the view from the top, and the joy of solo camping
Travel blog: Lakeside camping, hiking, and enjoying the view from the top of Big Pocono
PA State Parks: Summer Edition
My recommitment to the Pennsylvania State Park Challenge I’d set for myself at the beginning of the year led me to book a camping trip for the FOURTH time at Hickory Run State Park.
Winter Hiking by the creek
I arrived at Canoe Creek State Park just in time to watch a short but steady snowstorm from the comfort of my warm car. As the snowflakes slowed, I found a fun trail to travel up and down hills for a bit to get back on track with my plan for hiking. In addition to…
2021 Travel Tales – The “Beach Year”
Today is the second to last day of 2021 and I’m sitting in my hotel room in St. Petersburg, Florida overlooking a beautiful pool within a garden of palm trees (my favorite), and in the distance, I can see Tampa Bay. After pivoting to building an online business in 2020 and now becoming a full-time…
2022 Photo Calendar NOW AVAILABLE!
Each year I offer a photo calendar of my travel photography and it is that time of year again!
A weekend of scenic drives to 4 PA State Parks
On Saturday I traveled up and down the mountains from Bald Eagle State Park to nearby Black Moshannon State Park, Whipple Dam State Park, and Greenwood Furnace State Park. The first stop at each park was to get my passport stamp for the 52 State Park Challenge that I’ve been doing this year.
Fall Foliage, Camping, and Hiking at Raymond B Winter State Park
A crisp, fall afternoon of hiking followed by roasted marshmallows over a campfire is my ideal fall weekend, which I was lucky to enjoy recently at Raymond B Winter State Park. I drove up late on Friday evening (November 5th) and set up my tent to a walk-in site. Surrounded by the forest and a few other campers, I had an enjoyable time listening to podcasts and audiobooks while stargazing.
Fall Foliage at the PA Grand Canyon & State Park Camping!
Fall is my favorite time of the year to explore hiking trails in hopes to capture some amazing colors. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon has been on my bucket list for a while and I’m so thankful that I made it there right as the leaves were turning.
PA State Park Waterfront Views
Of all the Pennsylvania State Parks I’ve visited in 2021, by far the best ones (in my opinion) have waterfront views, expansive mountains, and calming shores.
Summer Hiking in Maine
In June, just six months after my very first visit, I returned to Maine to enjoy warmer weather, hiking, swimming, and spectacular views. Now it has taken me time to edit the photos and get this post up here on my travel blog since I’ve been really busy with work. I also decided not to…
Morning walks followed by afternoon swimming
This past weekend I strolled down shaded trails to discover beautiful landscapes, to hear the beautiful sounds of the forest, and to enjoy photographing nature. After my walk I cooled off by taking to the beach! All of this and more I experienced just one hour away from Harrisburg. On my continued mission to visit 52 Pennsylvania State Parks in 2021 I was able to add two more to the list.
Keep cool ;) Summer Hiking Adventures!~
The heat of summer has arrived and I’m seeking places with a place to cool down right now! In my pursuit of hiking at 52 Pennsylvania State Parks in 2021 I am focused on parks that have a lake, or stream to dip my toes into during or after a hike – AND hiking earlier!~
Summer State Park Hiking
Hot and humid, but in the shade of trees, summer hiking can be enjoyable. I’ve been hiking during every season in Pennsylvania and although summers are a bit more challenging with overgrown and unkept, narrow trails, the leaves from forest trees keeps the heat bearable. Pun intended! Keep an eye out for bears if you…
52 Pennsylvania State Park Challenge Announced!!
Inspired by my travels to California last year and picking up the National Parks Passport, I knew I wanted to check out the many Pennsylvania State Parks in 2021. Pennsylvania went from 1 park in 1893 to 121 State Parks in 2015, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources.
Epic West Coast Road Trip, Part 5
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”- John Muir Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park We entered Sequoia National Forest early mid-afternoon after departing Joshua Tree NP and making a quick stop at Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert. My boyfriend and I had discussed the best way to enter the park and I…
Epic West Coast Road Trip, Part 4
On my recent travels to Joshua Tree National Park I discovered not only about a wide variety of plants, animals, and strong winds, but also I learned more about myself. It was an adventure to spend two nights and three days under the stars, in excessive heat, and at times experiencing frustration while on a vacation.
Leaping is worth the risk
“We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success.” ― Henry David Thoreau It’s leap day today and I found myself wondering how I’d spend this extra day. Time seems so short, and I’ve found myself busier than ever trying to be productive, yet enjoy life….
10 Best Experiences of 2019
“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart It’s Christmas Eve and I’m sitting in front of my candle-lit fireplace, drinking some sparkling water and sipping on a cabernet from 2017. I page through the “workbook” I’d used…
The Grand Canyon’s South Rim
Standing on the edge of a cliff, at 7,000+ feet and looking a mile into the Grand Canyon, at the iconic geologic landscape and resources ranging from 1,840 to 270 million years old offers visitors feelings of awe. As the Colorado River rushes through the park, a six million year evolution eroding the canyon to…
5 Reasons to visit the Grand Canyon North Rim
The Grand Canyon National Park is a stunning and majestic place that should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit in their lifetime. Over 5 Million people come from all over the world to see the vast gorge, but only 10 percent make it to the North Rim, which is over 8,000 feet in elevation….
Climbing Mount Sniktau
“He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary.” ― Friedrich Neitszche There’s a moment when I was climbing Mt. Sniktau while visiting Colorado in July, that I realized that I’m capable of more than I think. As my best friend and I hiked up, there were so many times we…
Colorado Travels: Standing off with bison
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve returned from my trip to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains but I’m just getting around to writing about the experiences and wanted to share the story of the time I fearlessly approached a bison and survived. My best friend Christina arrived later than expected in Colorado on Sunday, July…
Last weekend at Glen Onoko Falls
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, and find eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no life but this.” ― Henry David Thoreau As sweat collected on my brow and my breathing deepened, my heart…
Truths & Travel: The Butterfly Effect in Mexico
“Change one thing, Change everything.” – The Butterfly Effect Rising early Thursday morning in my flat in Mexico, I was excited about the day ahead. One of my fellow travelers in our mastermind group titled “Lionesses” (A group founded following the DenEx trip with Location Indie) booked a handful of us a driver to transport…
Family Firsts, Beach Vibes, and Cranberry Bogs in New Jersey
“Oh the places you’ll go” – Dr. Seuss This past weekend I took a trip to New Jersey to visit my aunt. While we were there, we decided to explore the area and found some amazing places. Our first stop was to Seaside Heights. Best Burgers in town! Along the Seaside Heights Boardwalk, we discovered Spicy Cantina….
Rediscovering Annville, my hometown
“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.” ― Seneca, Letters from a Stoic Recently I took on a challenge to walk around my hometown of Annville, PA as a tourist. I’ve always wanted to…
Feeling Connected at Sweet Arrow Lake
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ― Brené Brown As I walked on the trails of Sweet Arrow Lake with my friend Jen, I felt a…
Travel. Hike. Click. Write. 