Tag: nature
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A Day on the Dingle Peninsula | Discovering Ireland
The Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, and Killarney in Ireland had been on my radar for many years. I had already traveled to Ireland twice prior, but never to the south western tip; home to the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry. On my most recent trip to Ireland, I decided to explore the…
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Yosemite National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Exploring California
Yosemite National Park in California is one of the most majestic, and breathtaking valleys on Earth. It is more than a place to camp and hike; Yosemite is a special place to recharge, to be grateful that you are alive, and are spending time in its valley. There are no words to truly describe the…
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Philippine’s Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site
I have been into numerous caverns and caves over my lifetime, so my curiosity about the Underground River in the Philippines got the best of me. One year, I decided that we should take a family trip to my parents homeland to ride canoe-like boats into a dark cave. We flew from Las Vegas to…
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Connemara National Park | Discovering Ireland
Visiting Connemara in County Galway along the westside of Ireland was balancing scale of emotions for me. It was joy of being out in a magnificent natural landscape, and sadness from its history of famine and loss. Many people come to Connemara for photography, outdoor recreation, or a relaxing getaway for a few days. There…
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The Giant’s Causeway – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Northern Ireland
Along the North Coast of Northern Ireland is a wonderous geological formation called The Giant’s Causeway. It is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, which were the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. The basalt columns built natural stepping stones of various heights, which create a dramatic scene with the Atlantic ocean waves…
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site
My sun is in Capricorn (an earth sign), and my moon, rising and Jupiter are in Sagittarius. What does all of that mean? It pretty much means that the desire for me to travel, be free, and in nature, particularly the mountains is instinctual. Being surrounded by a mountain range is grounding for me. The…
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Mingo Falls | Exploring North Carolina
I am not shy when it comes to road tripping, and exploring on my own within reason of course. While I was visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, I decided to head into the Cherokee Indian Reservation, and explore Mingo Falls. Also known as Big Bear Falls by the Cherokees, heading to this beautiful…
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Zion National Park | Exploring Utah
After our first initial visit to Zion National Park back in 2010, this magnificent valley in Utah had become a favorite. I have come back several times with friends to hike the Emerald Pools trail, the Narrows, and to find a sense of grounding. My now adult daughter hikes, camps here with friends, and even…
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Calistoga’s Geyser and Petrified Forest | Exploring Napa Valley, California
There are a lot of interesting sights in the Napa Valley beyond the grapevines and fine restaurants. Although those are a few of my favorite Napa sights. If you find yourself in Napa Valley with younger family members or looking for interesting natural sights, I suggest driving a few minutes to Calistoga. There you will…
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Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park | Exploring Wyoming
After I left the state of Wyoming, I had considered finding property close to Jackson Hole because the area was that impressive. Grand Teton National Park, which is located close to that upscale town of Jackson Hole, to which I fell in love with, was one of the reasons for my thoughts of relocation. This…
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Kenai Fjords National Park | Exploring Alaska
Exploring Kenai Fjords National Park, which lies just outside of Seward, was an extraordinary experience while traveling through Alaska. This is where ice, ocean and mountains meet and the best way to visit this national park is by boat or kayak. If water travel is not your thing, you do have the option to visit…
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Seward Highway – Scenic Byway | Exploring Alaska
As a traveler and road tripper, I have driven throughout the majority of the fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii. There have been drives that I wished would have ended quickly, and others that I wished would have never ended. Seward Highway in Alaska was one of those scenic byways that I wished would have…
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Exploring Exit Glacier | Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Exit Glacier is a massive and active glacier that is located in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska. It is one of the Kenai Fjords National Park’s major attractions, and served as the “exit” for the first recorded crossing of the Harding Icefield in 1968. Exit glacier is one of the easiest accessible valley glaciers in…
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Denali National Park & Preserve | Exploring Alaska
Denali is the national park that is on everyone’s list! I know this because everyone has told me that they have either wanted to come here, or they have already been to Denali. I have been to many national parks throughout this country of ours, and Denali National Park was one of my favorites. It…
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Death Valley National Park | Exploring California
Living in Las Vegas has given me great opportunities to visit many national parks. We are a few hours from the magnificent parks in Utah, and less than two hours away from Death Valley National Park in California. Over the past decade, I have taken various road trips visiting many of the wonderous natural sites…
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Capitol Reef National Park | Exploring Utah
Capitol Reef was the most peaceful of the National Parks that I had visited in Utah. Many people road trip it to the more popular parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon, or Arches National Park, but Capitol Reef was just as stunning. It might be due to the location as it is not off the main…
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Beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park | Exploring Utah
Utah is my favorite state when it comes to road tripping, and exploring the beauty of nature. Although it is a smaller state than California, which has the most national parks; Utah is home to many of America’s national parks including Bryce Canyon. The canyon is known for its hoodoos, which are irregular shaped rock…
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Garden of the Gods | Exploring Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado– Garden of the Gods is a majestic red rock public park just 70 miles south of Denver, and is free to the public. There are magnificent geological formations in various shades of red, pink, and white that you can casually stroll through, cycle or take a trolley tour to view this wonderous…
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Exploring Carlsbad Caverns was the best underground experience that I have done in my lifetime. I have gone below the Earth’s surface on many occasions from caverns to mines, and these southeastern New Mexico caverns were phenomenal. If you were to visit one cavern system only once in your lifetime, Carlsbad Caverns National Park would…
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Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve | Exploring California
Wish you were here! If this surreal landscape of azure skies, peaceful blue waters, and white rocky towers seems familiar, it is familiar. This is Mono Lake, and it was featured inside of Pink Floyd’s 1975, “Wish you were here” album cover. The Diver, which was a photo taken by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosissh, features what…
Trixie Navarre 