From India to Joshua Tree

Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California. It’s known for and named after its bristled yucca palms. That’s right. Joshua trees are the largest yucca in the world. So why exactly do we call them Joshua trees? It came from Mormon settlers in the 1800s as they made their way through the Mojave…

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another year in review, 21.0

Years have felt less year-like. In the time warp following 2020, there’s just pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. Dates seem to drip, flowing without delineation into a blur. That’s why it took be so long to pull this year in review together. It’s a tradition I’ve kept since 2012 that usually brings me a lot of joy…

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Exploring Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia

Plitvice National Park is incredible, and crowded, and has more waterfalls than I’ve ever seen. Plitvička Jezera, as it’s said in Croatian, is the country’s biggest and oldest national park. It’s made up of 16 lakes and over 90 waterfalls. The waters are brilliant blue greens, attributed to minerals and organisms. Over a million tourists…

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The Incredible Edible (Flower) Heads

As winter blows in and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) takes its toll, browsing pictures from warmer months might beat the cold weather blues. So please, enjoy! A few weeks after peak sunflower season, keeping true to my “always late” policy in life, I went to Grinter Farm in Kansas. The Grinters are an incredible family…

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Visit Banff, See the Ink Pots, Don’t Get Caught in Quicksand

Everywhere you drive in Banff is utterly amazing–from monstrous peaks to roaring rivers. Speaking of roars, you’ll most likely spot plenty of wildlife too. For that, you can thank the park planners who installed a series of animal overpasses and underpasses that have prevented countless wrecks over the last twenty or so years. It isn’t…

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Along The Iron Catwalks of Johnston Canyon

There’s no canyon hike quite like the Johnston Canyon trail. Travel back in time as we walk through the recent human history these rocky walls have known.

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The Giant Beehive & A Tea House in the Mountains Supplied by Helicopter

Last week, I shared a few photos from my walk around the Lake Louise Lakefront Trail in Banff. Just above those turquoise waters are many more hikes and sights, including the Beehive and Lake Agnes. The Beehive, pictured below, was named by J. Willoughby Astley in 1890, for obvious reasons. The lake directly below the…

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Forget the Blue Lagoon and Visit Reykjadalur Geothermal Springs in Iceland

Most people visiting Iceland think they have to go to The Blue Lagoon. Well, those people are wrong. Besides the long lines and instagram “influencers” (who will get on your last nerve), you’re basically in a manmade pool. If you’re looking for more a more natural experience, you’re going to have to hike for it.…

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4 waterfalls you should visit in Iceland

Iceland is a country of rainbows and waterfalls. Here’s a short list of 4 sites you should visit to witness in all their Icelandic glory.

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Strokkur Geysers: The Old Faithful of Iceland

Strokkur is a geyser in the Haukadalur Valley, surrounded by other mud pools and fumaroles. It erupts every 6 to 10 minutes, soaring to heights of 50 to 60 feet in the air. I didn’t take any pictures because it wasn’t the prettiest sight. Mostly a ring of people huddled perhaps a bit too closely…

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