August 19, 2020 In the heart of the White Mountains off the popular Kancamagus Highway (NH 112) is this gem of a hike. The main appeal is the location in one of the most scenic parts of the northeast, and the views that this low summit (2691 feet) gives of the eastern side of the …
Mount Willard, New Hampshire
August 18, 2020 Mount Willard Trail, Crawford Notch, NH Here is a short report on a short but rewarding hike in one of the most spectacular parts of New Hampshire and the northeast in general, namely Crawford Notch. The hike is short (1.6 miles one way) and relatively easy. The summit is at 2864 feet …
Acadia National Park, Maine 2020
August 13-17, 2020 It was already mid summer 2020, Cabin fever from the coronavirus epidemic was affecting us all, and we happened to hear a Pandora ad targeting Vermont residents that Maine is open and welcoming visitors from a few select, low-coronavirus areas. Just like when you go to a grocery store hungry you buy …
Mount Jo, Adirondacks, New York
Family friendly, short and highly rewarding. This short loop starts at the ADK Loj at Heart Lake, on the northern side of the high peaks. The summit of Mt Jo (elevation 2877 feet) affords spectacular views of the high peaks, including Algonquin (5114 feet) and Phelps Mountain (4150 ft). You also get a great view …
Rocky Falls, Adirondacks, New York
As part of a camping trip to Heart Lake in late July, we did a day hike up to Rocky Falls directly from our campsite. On a hot summer day, the falls are paradise and a dream come true: cool, refreshing mountain water gently plunging into inviting swimming pools, surrounded by shady forest deep in …
Abbey Pond, Vermont
An uncrowded favorite in the Green Mountain National Forest. We love this hike for many reasons. It is short and beautiful. It is great for kids and dogs. It is local and easily accessible, but not crowded like Mount Philo, Sterling Pond, or other mega-popular hikes. Also, it’s dog-friendly, not only because dogs are allowed, …
Ancient reef creatures in Vermont
There’s something special about seeing fossils out in their natural setting. Sure, museums show the best specimens and put them in nice light and make sure the room is not too hot, not too cold. But there’s a certain feeling, something like awe and thrill of discovery mixed together, when you find fossilized life forms …
Yellowstone National Park- how to get a site at Slough Creek or Pebble Creek Campgrounds
There are many campgrounds in Yellowstone, but for us there are two that stand out for their scenic beauty and for their proximity to the wildlife of the Lamar Valley: Slough (pronounced “Sloo”) Creek and Pebble Creek. If you are interested in the wildlife of Lamar Valley, this is the place to be as they …
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Yellowstone National Park with kids
We visited Yellowstone July 15-21, 2019 with our almost-3 and 7-year old daughters, fully prepared for the high-summer crowds about which we’d been warned by others and the internet. The crowds were indeed huge, but only in certain areas such as around Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring, and were not so bad in other …
Grand Teton National Park- how to get a campsite in Jenny Lake campground
Trip planning is so much easier if everything can be reserved in advance. Especially when coming from afar, knowing that everything is pre-arranged can ease your mind in very popular places like Grand Teton National Park. However, the campgrounds there are first come, first-served, making advance planning frustratingly impossible. The good news, though, is that …
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