When I was in Massachusetts a few weeks ago, we spent an evening in Plymouth. The town is fairly commercialized, but I still found green spaces to wander. Actually, we started the evening with seafood platters at Wood’s Seafood (according…
Hiking the Harvard Campus
When I was visiting Boston a few weeks ago, a friend asked if I’d like to walk around the Harvard campus. Yes, please! It turned out to be a lovely way to spend the later part of a hot summer…
The Best Day Hikes in the Sawtooth Mountains!
The Sawtooth Mountains in central Idaho are a not-so-hidden gem of the Rocky Mountains. With sparkling alpine lakes, towering craggy peaks, and peaceful forests (not to mention some nice creeks), it’s a hiker’s paradise with many miles of trails. In…
40 Miles on the Cuyahoga Valley Ohio & Erie Canal Path!
The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a gem for bicyclists. I’ve actually now done it twice, once back in 2022 and again this past spring (2025). Both adventures were great, with smooth trails, wildlife,…
Patriotic 4th of July Fun at North Bridge
The first shots of the American Revolution – “The shot that was heard around the world,” according to Ralph Waldo Emerson – were fired across North Bridge, about 17 miles outside of Boston, Massachusetts. (Of course, Mr. Emerson might have…
See the USS Constitution Fire its Cannons on July 4th!
I found out something new: Every July 4th, the USS Constitution sails from Boston Harbor out to Castle Island where it blows off its cannons. The army on shore responds with its own gunfire, and then the Constitution sails back…
Walking Upper Cove Canyon near the Maze District
About 19.8 miles from the pavement of US-95, the Waterhole Flat Road crosses an unassuming wash. It’s actually fairly easy to find because a sideroad goes off just before the road dips to cross the dry watercourse. This is Cove…
Upper Cascades in Hanging Rock State Park
The Upper Cascades in Hanging Rock State Park, NC, are a quick and somewhat easy hike to one of the park’s waterfalls. It’s a pretty falls, though to really enjoy it, you’ll need to scramble down the slippery rocks to…
Blue Lake above Lake Sebrina
Blue Lake above Lake Sabrina in the John Muir Wilderness of California is probably best known as a backpacking destination. However, it makes a great dayhike and was one of the prettiest mid-length hike of the High Sierra trails I…
Views of Roanoke from the Roanoke Star
When I looked up the best hikes around Roanoke, Virginia, one of the most popular was the Roanoke Star. Mind you, you can drive nearly to it. I suppose you can also hike up the hill from the bottom instead…