Deep within the Shawnee National Forest, approximately 30 minutes outside the small town of Harrisburg, Illinois in Saline County, sits a pretty cool-looking rock formation that resembles the face of an old woman (or man). Part of the Stoneface Research Natural Area of the Shawnee National Forest, it’s in a lesser known area home to …
Hanalei Bay and Pier was, by far, my personal favorite location on Kauai, Hawaii, and a must-see for anyone visiting the island. Located on the northern side, the bay is surrounded by lush, beautiful, towering mountains, making it the perfect spot to relax and take a break, especially at sunset. Depending on where you stay, …
Often referred to as "the Grand Canyon of Hawaii or the Pacific", Waimea Canyon is a sight to behold. Located at Waimea Canyon State Park, on the western side of the island of Kauai, it’s approximately 10 miles (16 km) long and 3,000 feet (900 meters) deep, encompassing about 1,866 acres. It was formed when the volcano that created …
Beautiful and stunning coastline made world-famous by numerous movies, including King Kong and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the Nā Pali Coast on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai is truly a sight to behold. Its uniquely jagged and forested landscape gives it an otherworldly vibe, not found (probably anywhere) on Mainland, U.S.A. …
If you’ve watched the comedy Tropic Thunder, then you’ve seen the jungles of Kauai, Hawaii. This movie was entirely filmed on this island, and after kayaking down the Wailua River and hiking to Secret Falls, I fully understood why the producers chose Kauai as the “Vietnam backdrop”. As we worked our way down the river, …
While the better-known Garden of the Gods is located in Colorado, this one is Southern Illinois' main claim to fame. By far the most popular hiking spot in the area, I firmly believe that the Illinois Garden of the Gods is worthy of its name. Beautiful and unique, it's a favorite go-to spot of out-of-towners …
Ahhh, Monument Valley (MV). An immense land of beautiful, mesmerizing, untouched desert. A mecca for Southwest lovers and road-tripping aficionados. A magical place locked in time. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has earned every bit of its fame and reputation. For seven years I dreamed of visiting this world-renowned geographical wonder and I finally got …
Before I visited Idaho, I always pictured it like Iowa or Ohio - just flat, nothing, boring, potatoland. Pleasantly surprising, Idaho is none of that, at least not the areas we went to. We drove through the entire eastern half, south to north, starting at the Utah border and driving approximately 2 hours north to …
Routinely assumed to be a single waterfall, Niagara Falls is actually three separate waterfalls. consisting of Bridal Falls, American Falls, and the biggest and most famous, Horseshoe Falls. The last waterfall is what people typically picture when thinking of Niagara Falls. I, embarrassingly, was one of these people, until I got to visit this iconic, …
Continue reading Niagara Falls: America’s Most Famous Waterfalls.
At the beginning of the trail, near the top and parking lot area. Located about 15 minutes outside of Flagstaff, Sandy Canyon is a great day hike. Officially called the Sandy Canyon Trail, it’s located inside the Coconino National Forest, tucked back off the typical touristy path. It could easily be overlooked or missed if …
Continue reading Sandy Canyon: A Picturesque Portion of the Arizona Trail.