Anne's Travels

Sioux Falls, Falls Park, South Dakota

I’m not particularly fond of city parks.  I’d much rather find some wilderness to go hike in, but if I’m stuck in a city, a city park is better than no park at all.  I can’t say that we were “stuck” in the “City” (town, really) of Sioux Falls in eastern South Dakota, but we did enjoy our time visiting the falls that the city was named after.  Falls Park is a popular location for locals to walk and/or visit on their lunch hour, but it is also a nice place to stop by on your way down I-90 or I-29 through South Dakota.

To get to the park …Read More

Tags: Waterfalls, Wheelchair Accessible

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At the String Lake Trailhead, Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Tetons are, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful mountains in the US.  Especially in the spring and early summer, when they are still flecked with snow, the mountains look like no other, and are beyond describing.  The best viewpoints are from a ways away from the mountains, but there are also some lovely trails into the Teton Range itself.  One very nice—and fairly accessible—trail is the Cascade Canyon Trail near Jenny Lake.  I’m guessing the trail is around 5 miles one way, but you can do as much or as little of the trail as you want.

There are three possible ways to get to the trail …Read More

Tags: Ferry, Lake, Mountains, Views, Waterfalls

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Lovely arbor in the Kent Park Arboretum

Well, I usually talk about trails, and usually I talk about trails that are in parks that would be interesting for people from out-of-state to visit.  However, today I’d like to talk about a park that may only have local appeal, and isn’t exactly a “trail”.  For years we’ve passed signs for the Kent Park Arboretum in Webster, NY, but we’ve never stopped to see what it was.  However, last weekend we needed someplace to take visiting family to, and decided to give the Arboretum a try.

We weren’t disappointed.  Although the park is only about 10 years old, the park personnel have done a terrific job at landscaping, planting, and generally turning it into a charming little gem for families, photographers, dog-walkers, and nature-lovers alike.  An added bonus is that it is fairly wheelchair and stroller accessible, although at times you may need to push the wheelchair or stroller across the grass.

It’s hard to give good directions to the park …Read More

Tags: Gardens, Wheelchair Accessible

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In the underground control facility at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

“World-wide delivery in 30 minutes or less, or your next one is free” reads the sign on the door.  Underneath the sign is the logo of Domino’s Pizza.  No, this isn’t a pizza parlor, nor is any kind of food served here.  Instead, this is the underground control facility from which a nuclear missile could be sent to the USSR during the Cold War…“in 30 minutes or less, or your next one is free”.  Today, this control facility is a historic site, established by the National Park System.  An actual missile is located a few miles west on I-90.  Together, these make up the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in western South Dakota.

The park visitor center is located off of I-90 …Read More

Tags: Cold War, Historic, History, missile, Museum, National Historic Site, nuclear, nuke, Wheelchair Accessible

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The Picture that started it all...

Recently, a friend saw a picture of an awesomely desolate (and pretty) desert up on my computer screen.  She was wondering where it was taken, and we told her that it was a Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California.  Her reply was, “That’s a state park?!?”  I guess us Easterners figure that national parks get all of the great scenery, and the state is left with what’s leftover, which is usually the second best.  Although this may be true in eastern states, out in California there is so much beautiful scenery that the state gets left with some pretty nice views.  This specific picture was taken from Wind Caves, in the eastern part of the park.  The coolest thing about this site is the “caves”; holes that have been carved in the rocks by the wind.  They really aren’t big enough to be caves, but they’re known as Wind Caves none the less.  The view from the caves is also awe-inspiring, as you can see over a maze of washes, badlands, and sand hills.  It really does have a rustic beauty to it, almost like a scene from a sci-fi movie.

To get to the wind caves, take Highway 78 …Read More

Tags: Arches, Campgrounds, Canyon, Dirt Roads, Rock Formations, Views, Wilderness

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Wildflowers overlook Mt Baker, Washington

Imagine magnificent views of Mt. Baker, beautiful vistas of Mt. Shuksan, and amazing flowers and snow (yes, I said snow) to set it all off.  You can see all of this and much more from the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail in the Mt. Baker Wilderness.  Although this same area is better known for its Chain Lakes Trail, my advice is to skip the lakes and use your hiking muscles to walk out on the ridge.  The lakes look like lakes, but the mountain scenery is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

Directions

From the Glacier Public Service Center …Read More

Tags: Mountains, Views, Wilderness

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Maroon Lake, Maroon Bells Wilderness

So I’m told, one of the most photographed vistas in the US is of the Maroon Bells Mountains in western Colorado.  Especially in early summer, when the mountains still snow-covered, the view of the Maroon Bells on a sunny day is stunning: perfectly shaped mountains flecked with snow reflecting in a picturesque, crystal clear mountain lake.  Trails take hikers up to other views of the mountains, and to spectacular views of the mountains surrounding the Maroon Bells.

Directions:

To get to the Maroon Bells from the north …Read More

Tags: Lake, Mountains, Views, Wilderness

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One of the "toadstool" rock formations in Bisti National Wilderness

Bisti National Wilderness is exactly what the name implies: wilderness.  That means that this area doesn’t have the services offered at other parks.  In fact, I think that the only service offered is a parking area at the trailhead.  There is no visitor center, no restrooms, no water, no designated camping areas, and no paved scenic drives.  There are no trails either, except a few cow trails that we found here and there.  (No trails are a plus as far as I’m concerned.)  However, the lack of services keeps away the average thrill-seekers, leaving it undisturbed for those who really want to get away from it all.  I don’t think that we ever met anyone hiking, though we did see one car in the parking area the second time we visited the wilderness.  This is an unknown, rusticly beautiful place to “get away” from it all.

Directions

To get to Bisti from NM 371, go 36½ miles from the …Read More

Tags: Arches, Dirt Roads, Rock Formations, Valley, Views, Wilderness

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Broken Bow Arch, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

In a former post, I mentioned that Corona Arch was a cross between Delicate Arch in Arches National Park and Broken Bow Arch in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  Well, here I’ll tell you how to see Broken Bow Arch for yourself.  The hike winds through a beautiful canyon with a small stream running through it to a spectacular arch on a small plateau above the canyon bottom.

Directions

Broken Bow Arch is located …Read More

Tags: Arches, Canyon, Dirt Roads, Rock Formations, Waterfalls, Wilderness

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My favorite picture of Corona Arch

Most people who’ve been to Moab have been to Arches National Park, or have at least heard of it.  Many more across the globe have seen pictures of the park’s famed Delicate Arch.  However, few have seen, or even heard of, Corona Arch, a magnificent span of rock that really isn’t that far from Moab.  And if you’ve forgotten your park pass (or just don’t want to have to pay the entrance fee), the hike to Corona is free.  Of course, you don’t get the variety or quantity that you’d get at the National Park, but it’s still well worth the hike.

The railroad cutting, as seen from the arch

Directions:

From Moab, take US 191 until …Read More

Tags: Arches, Ladders, Moab, Railroad, Rock Formations, Views, Wilderness

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