The first time we visited Chiricahua National Monument, we thought we must have entered a rock-formation-wonderland. We were used to the red rocks of Utah (Bryce and Arches have long been favorite national parks), but this was a totally different…
Some of the Best Ancient Civilization Ruins at Pueblo Bonito
Probably one of the more memorable destinations we’ve visited on our travels is Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. From the first time we saw a photo of it on the cover of our American Automobile Association Southwestern…
Genesee Riverway – Ontario Beach Park, Turning Point Park, & Maplewood Park
A couple weeks ago, we took a bike ride along the Genesee Riverway in Rochester, New York. I had ridden the northern part of the Genesee Riverway from downtown Rochester to the Erie Canal in Genesee Valley Park a few…
Remote History at the Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse
You’d better be up for an adventure if you want to see the historic Mount Trumbull Schoolhouse – it’s at least 60 miles of questionable dirt roads to get there. We certainly had a good time visiting, but we were…
Autumn at Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park
If you want a scenic scene in the Finger Lakes, I highly recommend the view over Honeoye Lake from Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park. The lake spreads out below in a forested green valley, and views extend all the way…
Climbing the Ladders to Alcove House
Probably one of my favorite hikes in Bandelier is Alcove House. One of the great things is that it’s not that much longer to take the Main Loop to the Alcove House Trail, so you get to see the cliff…
Climbing Ladders into Caves on Bandelier’s Main Loop
It’s not every day you get to climb a wooden ladder into the home of ancient American Indians. Maybe in Mesa Verde, on an official tour, or another tour with a guide or park ranger standing close by. But on…
Nampaweap Petroglyphs – The Best Rock Art in Arizona!
If you’re looking for one of the most prolific and best-preserved rock art sites I’ve ever seen in the southwestern US, look no further than the Nampaweap Rock Art Site in the Mt. Trumbull Wilderness (part of Grand Canyon-Parashant National…
Pueblos, Lizards, and More on the Pueblo Alto Loop
There are members of my group who have wanted to hike the Pueblo Alto Loop for about 23 years. That was when they saw a photo of Pueblo Bonito on the cover of their AAA road map and decided to…
Sneak Peak: Southwestern Variety at its Finest
I just got back from another hiking-adventure trip across the western US! It was different than any before, even as we visited old and new sites across Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and even Utah and Wyoming. There were high…