Our main goal on this cross-country trip was to be comfortable and not rush. This trip would be a true test of our Wayfarer Van and our 9 month old puppy. We decided to divide our 27 hour trip into three 9-hour days with plenty of stops and walks along the way. We departed home on May 25. We eased in to our journey with a pitstop in Chicago on the eve of my sister’s baby shower. We continued our first day of driving for a two night stay at a friend’s house just outside Sauk City on the…
The rails-to-trails movement began in the 1960s. Today, thanks to the popularity of the movement and the passage of the amendment of National Trails Systems Act to include “railbanking” in 1983 ,there are over 21,000 miles of new trails in the US. Rails-to-trails are a perfect example of marrying interests, opening land for public use, and preserving the irreplaceable corridors from aggressive development. Learn more about the history of the rails-to-trails movement. In early May, I traveled to Leesburg, VA with my mom for my cousin’s wedding. On the way down south we were able to sneak a bike ride…
Lake Wenatchee is home to over 30 miles of groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Lake Wenatchee is a state park located in the Central Cascades surrounded by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The state park is located 2.5 hours north-east of Seattle and 16 miles from Leavenworth. We parked in the South Entrance lot and snowshoed on a groomed trail along the edge of the Wenatchee River. To access the park in winter a Discover Pass and Sno-Park Pass are required. A pay station is available near the parking lot. Accomodations Camping: The park has 155 standard campsites,…
Young Lakes offers an “easy” escape into the Yosemite backcountry and the high sierra wonderland. Young Lakes is located off of Tiago Road just north of the Tuolumne Meadows. Overnight parking and bear boxes are located on the road near Lembert Dome. Overnight parking is prohibited in the Lembert Dome lot. Starting elevation: 8,584 feet Elevation at Young Lakes, lower lake: 9,880 feet Total elevation gain: 1,460 feet Total miles: 13.8 miles including Dog Lake spur The trail climbed steadily through lodgepole pines with views of the white granite of Lembert Dome skirting the edge of the trail to the…
We are fortunate to call Peninsula, the gem nestled in the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, our home. Below are some of our favorite things to do! Top Things to Do in Peninsula, OH 1. Visit the Howe Meadows Farmers Market. The Howe Meadows Farmers Market is located at 4040 Riverview Rd, Peninsula, OH, 44264. The market is on Saturday mornings from 9am to 12pm, April 21st – October 27th. The market, managed by the Countryside Conservancy, features live music and has over 50 vendors. View a full list of vendors. 2. Take a bike ride on the…
Sleeping Bear is a landscape shaped by glaciers. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore was established October 21, 1970. In 2014, 32,500 acres (13,200 ha; 50.8 sq mi) of the park were formally designated as the Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act Sleeping Bear is located on the scenic M22 highway that winds up the west coast of Northern Michigan. The Lakeshore is located near the towns of Empire and Glen Arbor. Camping is available in the national lakeshore and at other state and municipal campgrounds. We like to stay at the Empire…
Eights hours is the amount of time it takes to cross the border into the Green Mountain State (Vermont) from our home in Ohio. Crossing the Vermont border always feels something like a mother’s hug. Things get a little quieter. There are no billboards that line the highway. The distractions & stimulation are less. This would make our second annual trip to Vermont in the fall. We left early Saturday and arrived as the sun was setting. The Bennington Welcoming Center was a nice surprise as our sweet, old dog, Grace, was getting restless from the long car ride. After…
Cranberry Wilderness Night 1, 6/30 Location: Cranberry Campground (Outside Richwood, WV) Directions: Forest Rd 101 to 76 Site: 51 Fee: $10/ per night Site 51 is located near the lavatory and the Cranberry River is across the road. The Cranberry Wilderness area is only a few hundred feet away and there is a large lot for backcountry camping. If you follow rd. 76 out the opposite direction there are a number of river site between Big Rock and Cranberry Campground. The Cranberry Campground has a large number of RVs. It does not feel off the grid. Night 2, 7/1 Location:…
