Tag: nature

Visiting Waimea Valley-Without Swimming in the Waterfall-Oahu-Hawaii

The sun sparkles between openings in the dense trees. The sky is a vibrant blue. Small cloud puffs float lazily across the sky. The vibrant green, Waimea Valley, rises up on all sides. We set out on the main path. Our first goal, visit Waimea Valley’s most touristic feature, the waterfall. Reading reviews pre-trip, I…
Hiking Diamond Head in Hawaii

It’s the reward for hiking Diamond Head State Monument. An awe-inspiring view. The blue water stretches to infinity. A woman lines a group of tween boys against the railing. She works to catch her breath as she exclaims, “Wow, what a hike! Are you guys tired?” One of the boy’s eyes sparkling with wonder, replies,…
Visiting The Turtle Hospital-Marathon-Florida

Circled around the largest tank, at The Turtle Hospital, in Marathon, Florida, the tour group stands ready. The guide drops a handful of pellets into our palms. We are instructed to toss a few pellets at a time into the water. The turtles glide over to the pellets. They munch. Watching rescue animals munch, brings…
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park-New Jersey

He did do a million things. As Park Ranger Emma discusses Alexander Hamilton’s vision for Paterson Great Falls, I wonder what million things he left undone. It’s noon as the car pulls into the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, parking lot. The New Jersey, city, locals, occupy various benches and walls, munching their lunch-break…
Hawaii’s Green Sand Beach-The Big Island

Passenger comments erupt, as the truck bounces to Hawaii’s Green Sand Beach.“This is insane!”“What the *** !”“Why did we want to do this?”We wanted to do this because there are only four green sand beaches in the world. They are located in Guam, Norway, The Galapagos, and Hawaii. Getting To The Green Sand Beach On…
Visiting Valley Forge National Historical Park-Pennsylvania

I breathe in the scent of the freshly printed page. Ink, just off of the copier, used to have a smell. Our teacher’s footsteps tap on the cheap linoleum, as she walks up and down the aisles of desks. Eagar hands grab for the coveted blank permission slips. Our class is taking a field-trip, to…
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

National Recreation Areas can be tricky to plan. They encompass numerous acres, and the Visitor’sCenter can be far from the area’s activities. This is our experience visiting the Mississippi NationalRiver and Recreation Area, in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, includes 72 miles of river, perfect for paddling. Our visit starts…
Hiking to the M*A*S*H TV Set-Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

We’re exhausted. The pre-dawn flight from the East to West Coast, is catching up with us, but we are determined to go hiking, to the M*A*S*H TV Set. Not always jetsetters, once upon a time, we are newly married, fresh out of college kids, intent, above all else, to pay off debt. This means, for…
Visiting Channel Islands National Park-California

“That was a great day!” Announces the tousled haired young man. He claims a chair on the boat, preparing to leave Channel Islands National Park. “It was a hellah great day!” Agrees the young man in the backwards hat. The group settle into the row behind us. They take turns visiting the downstairs snack counter,…