The Grand Canyon is an iconic American attraction. There are all kinds of places to explore. However, many of our visits to the Grand Canyon have been quick stops on our cross country trips. It is possible to set aside a half day and see a great deal of what the Grand Canyon offers. This…
Shenandoah National Park stretches over 100 miles through the center of Virginia. There are dozens of hiking trails. One of the most popular is the Hawksbill Summit hike. This takes you to the top of Hawksbill Mountain, the highest point in the park. Starting Point: Lower Hawksbill Trailhead, Skyline Drive mile 45.5 Length: 1.8 miles…
Shenandoah National Park stretches over 100 miles through the center of Virginia. There are dozens of hiking trails. One of the best is hiking along the waterfalls of Whiteoak Canyon. This is my hike from Skyland Lodge to the Upper Falls at Whiteoak Canyon. The heart of Shenandoah National Park is the Skyline Drive. Shenandoah…
Shenandoah National Park stretches over 100 miles through the center of Virginia. The park is filled with great mountain hikes. For families and day visitor’s a great introductory hike is Fox Hollow Loop at Dickey Ridge Visitor’s Center near the northern entrance. Starting Point: Dickey Ridge Visitor’s Center, Skyline Drive mile 4.6 Length: 1.2 miles…
Shenandoah National Park is located in the center of Virginia. This long park is in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a scenic view overlooking the valleys below. This is our guide to Shenandoah National Park. Overview Shenandoah National Park is long and skinny. The park runs 100 miles in length but is rarely more than…
For outdoor lovers, Red Rock Canyon is a must-see attraction about a half hour from the Vegas Strip. Our favorite hike at Red Rock is Calico Tanks. This 2-mile hike leads to an impressive view of the Las Vegas Strip. Starting Point: Sandstone Quarry parking lot, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 1000 Scenic Loop…
Big Bear Lake is the premiere mountain playground in Southern California. In the winter it is hopefully covered with snow and people head to ski resorts Snow Summit and Big Bear Mountain. The rest of the year is a great time for not only lake-based activities but also hiking and mountain biking. This is our…
The hike up Pine Knot Trail to Grand View Point probably provides the most epic views in the San Bernardino mountain range. Starting from Big Bear Lake, this climbs about 1,000 feet to Grand View Point which overlooks a valley and the highest mountains in Southern California. Roundtrip it is a little over 7 miles,…
Among the many hikes in the Big Bear Lake area, Cougar Crest Trail provides great views of the area. While Cougar Crest Trail has a significant uphill climb, it is done over a steady pace. This is a fairly moderate hike that can be done with older children. Cougar Crest Trail starts in Fawnskin, across…
Castle Rock Trail is probably many people’s favorite hike in Big Bear Lake. It is a short, mile and a half round trip with great views. However, the big attraction of this hike is the large boulders. This is our pictorial guide to hiking Castle Rock Trail. The hardest part of the Castle Rock Trail…