• ILLINOIS,  Road Trips

    Matthiessen State Park, Illinois

    Matthiessen State Park, Illinois This place is amazing. I went in February while everything was frozen and in black and white tones. It was magic. The Dells Canyon and Bluff is one of the 5 Miles of trails in the whole of Matthiessen State Park, it’s a small gorge in Illinois with two waterfalls. The Dells trial itself is only about 2 miles in total but it makes a figure eight so you don’t have to hike it all in one go. Dells Canyon and Bluff Distance: 2 Miles Pets: Yes, on leash. The lower falls in summer can create a corkscrew cascade and I’m told it’s amazing. I wasn’t…

  • OHIO,  Road Trips

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is the only national park in the state. It’s a unique experience. Many privately owned homes and properties are peppered throughout the area. However, the train came first and the town was built up around it. When the area was designated a national park in 2000, so when the national park declared boundaries it had to work around the privately own land and buildings giving it a strange structure. The best way to experience the park is to take a train tour. It also has over 125 miles of hiking trails. Directions Address:6947 Riverview RoadPeninsula, OH 44264(41° 15’45.3″ N) (81°…

  • Road Trips,  UTAH

    Wind Caves Trail, Logan Canyon

    Wind Caves Trail Of all the gorgeous canyons in Utah, Logan Canyon is one of my all time favorites. There’s so many beautiful views, the river is a great spot for fishing and camping and the hiking is spectacular. One of the most popular hikes in the canyon is the Wind Caves trail. Directions Wind Caves TrailTrail: 1.8 Miles, 3.6 round trip.Elevation gain: 1,000 feetGPS Coordinates: 42.231659281533. -111.5598479379 There are two locations to start. Logan, Utah, or Bear Lake, UT. I’ve posted directions for both. Phone signal in the canyon can be unreliable so take a screen shot of the one that works best for you.   Starting In Logan,…

  • Road Trips,  UTAH

    Bear Lake Paris Ice Cave

    Bear Lake Ice Cave Bear Lake is one of the most underrated vacation spots in the western US. It has it all, great water, old-fashioned restaurants, good people, and the view. Oh, goodness that view. The water is so clear and blue it’s ideal for photos and any road trip bucket list must include the Bear Lake Ice Cave Ice Cave While you’re there one of the least known destinations is the Paris Ice Cave. There’s always ice in this small cavern. I felt it cool immediately, even after one of the hottest summers on record the size of the ice chunk was surprising. Directions If you want to visit…

  • Road Trips,  UTAH

    Moonshine Arch Trail: the Where’s and How To’s

    Moonshine Arch Trail Directions Take a screen shot of this. Service can be spotty. Drive time from Vernal, Utah: 15 Minutes Distance from Vernal: 8.1 MilesTrail Length: 2.4 MilesGain in Elevation: 104 FtDifficulty: EasyDuration: 1.5 Hours (including photography time) Moonshine Arch Trail is a quick and easy hike north of Vernal, Utah. It’s great for beginners and the size of the arch is bigger than expected. It’s a taste of Arches National Park without the crowds or costs. It’s 15 minutes North of Vernal, Utah, an 8.1-mile drive. Begin the drive from Cobble Rock Park, which is downtown Vernal, on the corner of Main Street AKA Highway 40. Head north on…