https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1 daily 0.75 2026-07-23 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/pacific-northwest-fog monthly 0.5 2026-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/070bd77a-de15-4508-aa74-e2e315689515/Redwoods-3.jpg Blog - Pacific Northwest Marine Layer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/81712b21-99b6-4f88-8ccb-33daf0ed123b/Redwoods--2.jpg Blog - Pacific Northwest Marine Layer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f62c2439-0551-42ec-aa8e-ee6086938167/Redwoods-6557.jpg Blog - Pacific Northwest Marine Layer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/02d00d5b-2877-4874-a770-538e7e71d973/Redwoods--23.jpg Blog - Pacific Northwest Marine Layer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/oregon-coast monthly 0.5 2026-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/01c26e19-a44f-42a8-a0a7-8132dcc5b0e3/Oregon+Coast-6091.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Rafael and River climbing a sea stack at low tide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/26dba454-b621-4656-a29c-02fb2ba0a8c2/Redwoods-02.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Pacific Northwest drift wood is massive! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bda1416b-b895-4388-9d36-2815e6da498b/Oregon+Coast-3.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Samuel H Boardman State Corridor Natural Bridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c0f442d8-2639-4c1e-98d4-ee05d2073cab/Oregon+Coast--5.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Samuel H Boardman Thunder Rock viewpoint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4e8439a2-baf1-495a-b95b-d7040483f142/Oregon+Coast-7432-2.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Bandon Beach Wizard’s Hat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6f1e36cd-d800-49e3-8957-941d689e829b/Oregon+Coast-3-2.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Bandon Beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/be5debc0-5535-4a90-85cb-ababe98e41b1/Oregon+Coast-3-5.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Incoming! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b6c4358f-d1d1-44ad-a8f5-2fc4fede1ab0/Thors+Well-.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Spouting Horn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d0657721-ea25-4c86-98cd-3c1ed47264d9/Thors+Well-7999.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Spouting Horn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/935d8f0f-7d21-4efd-94ca-1f2992fdd11c/Thors+Well-8337.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Thor’s Well reloading, this is as close as I dared get. A sign in the parking lot warned that 3 people have been swept into the hole and died since 2020. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/68b32c55-a9d7-43ae-a3f7-4db81fc7105c/Thors+Well-8516.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Thor’s Well got me wet with this geyser. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/74e2fa51-d3a0-4c8d-93a1-b000e016bc89/Oregon+Coast-0357.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Ochre sea star is an important predator commonly found in rocky intertidal zones along the Pacific coast. They are known for their vibrant colors, including orange and purple, and typically have five arms covered in small, spine-like structures called pedicellariae. These sea stars play a crucial role in their ecosystem by feeding on mussels and other mollusks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3b958596-9c5b-474f-83fc-375796e783b7/Oregon+Coast-0395.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1c2f0846-8e76-4e75-8795-a05bf05b6658/Oregon+Coast-0974.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Oceanside Beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/abd01914-472b-42c4-8273-d2963e135a7c/Oregon+Coast--6.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out The tunnel at Oceanside Beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a9df1bb8-0da9-4038-a9b8-48e380c879f1/Oregon+Coast-0936.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Tillamook Creamery Visitor Center https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/044081a2-710f-47ee-8aa6-75cdf051fcc8/Oregon+Coast-02.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out It’s crowded at the Tillamook Visitor Center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f4ac1611-9e1c-47e5-aaec-623f7cc9ee08/Oregon+Coast-02-2.jpg Blog - Oregon Coast - Make it stand out Tillamook Creamery gift shop https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/more-redwoods monthly 0.5 2026-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/abc87171-df63-4c1b-ae9e-cc22dce66000/Redwoods-02-5.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Large burl Redwood trees are fire resistant. Tannic acid is a chemical infused in their thick and fibrous bark which keeps them safe from most fires. If a fire ever does harm them, they also can re-sprout from burl tissue. Fires have shaped redwood ecosystem for a long time, creating healthy groves of trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/89330b4a-d43e-41ed-ab4a-157452a72d3f/Redwoods-02-4.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Rafael and River with a tree that fire destroyed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/68398112-a18f-43fe-87a0-04713e793628/Redwoods--6.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Fire damaged this tree’s bark in an interesting pattern. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/071f63ec-6253-4ad6-8a69-76f011ed86cc/Redwoods--22.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Hatton Trail view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e12d2607-8edd-43dd-a739-d06c7de8922d/Redwoods--4.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Sunset catching just the tops of a bunch of redwoods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e01e08b6-30ff-445d-9469-7ac92231067d/Redwoods-3-3.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c5a738b6-865a-4aaf-95e4-edb493c4401b/Redwoods--14.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f04b0d2a-336d-4d09-91a1-3ee904fa42d0/Redwoods-6781.jpg Blog - More Redwoods - Make it stand out Our favorite Pacific Northwest critter, the banana slug. We spent almost two weeks exploring various landscapes where redwoods live. Next up for us the Pacific Northwest coast. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/grove-of-titans monthly 0.5 2026-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/59ef2e41-a9ea-4a8a-a1c1-ca5aaeb26a39/Redwoods-02-2.jpg Blog - Grove of Titans - Make it stand out Rafael, River, Kellie, Jane, Joe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b81cae3-bd05-4961-ae9c-4014e081f430/Redwoods--15.jpg Blog - Grove of Titans - Make it stand out Redwood roots getting sustenance from a nurse log. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6076b123-b049-4ab0-b0d8-4515fd268e77/Redwoods--16.jpg Blog - Grove of Titans - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7c22a5f4-dadf-47e3-a9bd-a86453fbd0a9/Redwoods--17.jpg Blog - Grove of Titans - Make it stand out 1,500 feet of elevated boardwalk has been built to protect the forest floor and to allow for safe and easier viewing of the redwoods at the site. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1dd1d9b5-9322-4bd5-8627-e3f8a8ee2123/Redwoods-02-3.jpg Blog - Grove of Titans - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5fd30829-3d91-4901-8e63-0120b1e3a0b2/Redwoods--20.jpg Blog - Grove of Titans - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/u4qu3s8mkn6wu121zsvuyd1l44jbyb monthly 0.5 2026-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/86370c54-eda3-4443-a967-b2e038bb6e86/Redwoods--11.jpg Blog - Redwoods - Stout Grove - Make it stand out I think what makes Stout Grove beautiful is the carpet of ferns covering most of the ground between trees with minimal other vegetation. In the center of this photo is a a fairy ring. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/55fcb38f-96b5-43a2-93dd-a58a89a78569/Redwoods--13.jpg Blog - Redwoods - Stout Grove - Make it stand out Typical Stout Grove path. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/09005b05-e0e9-41bb-827c-fc8a179cee32/Redwoods-5506.jpg Blog - Redwoods - Stout Grove - Make it stand out Ancient snag from a fire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eeefcafc-62ea-4ba4-86bb-382a2538203c/Redwoods-5697.jpg Blog - Redwoods - Stout Grove - Make it stand out Nurse log just beginning to decay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5a4ff487-3d04-45c8-a756-4fb0b0bd3942/Redwoods+%281+of+1%29.jpg Blog - Redwoods - Stout Grove - Make it stand out I just like ferns. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/avenue-of-the-giants monthly 0.5 2026-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c8160802-0f67-47be-892d-bf2d91a70a89/Redwoods--5.jpg Blog - Avenue of the Giants - Make it stand out Typical scenery found along Avenue of the Giants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d176fa86-b3ef-4a2f-b6d1-ed2d2a9794c9/Redwoods-5492.jpg Blog - Avenue of the Giants - Make it stand out Large burl with various plants growing on it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b36c3b87-55f4-4908-8833-339f4042e265/Redwoods-5506.jpg Blog - Avenue of the Giants - Make it stand out Snag from a fire many ,many years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f5d1967e-4546-4207-9d7d-9bfef9b00f2d/Redwoods-5528.jpg Blog - Avenue of the Giants - Make it stand out Nursery log over a small stream. When redwoods fall, as they slowly decay, they provide a ‘nursery’ for trees and plants by providing the nutrients needed to quickly grow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d2a5fbe2-0dd7-4eb3-80bc-e3401a15d1a4/Redwoods--10.jpg Blog - Avenue of the Giants - Make it stand out This will be our first stop in the redwoods with the next stop on the north end of their range. Our daughter Kellie and our youngest grandkids will join us. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/utahs-zion-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f4efbc7c-518d-48d3-b717-75f4ea7def4f/Zion-.jpg Blog - Utah's Zion National Park - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0d164b82-34e6-451a-b999-31ede92e4c62/Zion--2.jpg Blog - Utah's Zion National Park - Make it stand out Observation Point view of Zion Canyon. Many Pools Trail is on the east side of the park. It is known for lots oof small pools that are good for reflections. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9194f6d0-40f2-409f-8192-a94002b286de/Zion--4.jpg Blog - Utah's Zion National Park - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e01f73a2-ec46-4a04-aad2-937900c58dba/Zion--3.jpg Blog - Utah's Zion National Park - Make it stand out Tunnel to Many Pools Trail Kolob Canyon is in the northwest corner of the park, narrow parallel box canyons are cut into the western edge of the Colorado Plateau, forming majestic peaks and 2,000 foot cliff walls. We visited by driving the 5 mile scenic route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b5b24b63-3075-478a-8d94-ae9ed4270e13/Zion--6.jpg Blog - Utah's Zion National Park - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1846d6af-b0d1-49ea-878c-4f4b21bf7823/Zion-2993.jpg Blog - Utah's Zion National Park - Make it stand out Checkerboard Mesa on the east side of Zion. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/utahs-bears-ears-national-monument monthly 0.5 2026-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a0564282-b2d9-42b9-bd76-7d422bb26533/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0554.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out In early March Joe took a short trip to southern Utah to visit Bears Ears National Monument. The monument was established in 2016 and is approximately 1,350,000 acres in size. It protects both native american cultural resources and natural resources. This photo shows The Bears Ears the monument is named after. Cedar Mesa is a large plateau in Bears Ears National Monument with many canyons and cliffs. Hidden among these canyons are numerous Ancient Pueblo ruins. This is the House on Fire ruin found in South Mule Canyon after a one mile hike. During late morning on sunny days the sunlight bounces off the rock in the canyon floor hitting the cliff face. The combination of the sunlight and the texture of the cliff face combine to create the illusion of fire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/36ef6777-d75e-4a92-9ab0-006226cdd1d7/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0713.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b8f50d57-7aec-49e7-bc1b-16cc81d02b60/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Abajo Mountains. Comb Ridge is a linear north to south monocline nearly 80 miles long in Southeastern Utah and Northeastern Arizona. It is rich in Ancient Pueblo ruins and petroglyphs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0f51ecf5-cc04-47cc-ba00-91c681b6bc7a/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0926.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bcae5fde-a24a-4908-b9a0-5ed2c2e9217b/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--2.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Procession Panel found at the top of Comb Ridge. Monarch Cave ruins at Comb Ridge. Note this ruin is three stories high. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8480a42d-f5c9-4b11-95ef-746c0a8193c4/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--3.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b31c8d13-9588-4ecb-a97c-d4703f47bafb/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--4.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Wolfman Petroglyph panel. The Moki Dugway is a series of switch backs that ascend from The Valley of the Gods about 1000 feet to Cedar Mesa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/94c7666d-131e-45f3-99d6-60387337f263/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0571.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ba4a62a0-832c-4c9e-92f1-712ec33496b4/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--6.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out When approaching the Moki Dugway the idea of driving to the top of Cedar Mesa looks impossible. A small portion of the Moki Dugway road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/70f887d8-5ee3-4adc-b4e9-d0c85a541019/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0808.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f00fb691-728a-4601-a97b-605a46464668/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--8.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out A left turn at the top of the Moki Dugway leads to Muley Point and a view of Monument Valley and the Goosenecks of the San Juan River from about 1000 feet above it. Goosenecks of the San Juan River. It is approximately 1000 feet down to the river. Behind this view is Muley Point which is about 1000 feet above the viewpoint. The river travels 6 miles while only advancing 1.5 miles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1c50331c-8590-419c-a2db-fcc06b94ab04/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--9.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f8891d64-935b-4029-9211-55bcd093a87a/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--11.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Valley of the Gods seen from the top of the Moki Dugway. A 17 mile Jeep Trail winds through the valley which has rock formations similar to those in Monument Valley with tall, reddish brown mesas, buttes, towers, and mushrooms rocks. Typical view Valley of the Gods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/41b6ab9b-38f5-4854-8eb6-bdda110dc73a/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--12.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9b00508e-7811-478a-a74e-0ab27adfb906/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--13.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Sitting Hen Butte Valley of the Gods. Sunset Valley of the Gods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/304c4b9d-d2eb-4dc7-afa1-6bd674e1f2c5/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--14.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/59f2bf0c-ce8e-4220-8e6e-7b1b7a4175ee/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0790.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out The Mexican Hat mushroom rock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3e3d5aa0-2573-493e-87b8-5ae2f98fcf0c/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-1154.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out Triangles seen just north of Mexican Hat, Utah. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/818411bf-a566-4978-92a2-b23aa2a274ba/Bears+Ears+National+Monument--16.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out On the way home passing through Monument Valley. This is the view from Forest Gump Hill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e8323067-e3d9-439e-b0ab-1e6da6de97cd/Bears+Ears+National+Monument-0862.jpg Blog - Utah's Bears Ears National Monument - Make it stand out One last look at Monument Valley. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/antigua monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c370120d-1487-42b1-b17e-796d986cffd1/Antigua-01.jpg Blog - Antigua - Make it stand out In mid-December we traveled to the Caribbean island of Antigua for a weeks stay at Jolly Beach Resort. The weather was fantastic with highs in the low 80's and lows in the low 70's with a few minutes of rain each day. The sunsets were spectacular with vivid reds, oranges, and yellows contrasting with blues and magentas each evening. Waves were usually about 6 inches high. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/44207512-39e4-4939-b053-5f8bbbcc2933/Antigua-105744940.jpg Blog - Antigua - Make it stand out Rainbow after a morning shower. Jolly Beach Resort is an all-inclusive property with 3 restaurants on site. We mostly ate at The Palms which is a buffet with a great variety of choices. We enjoyed the food, especially the Antiguan Black Pineapple. This local variety of pineapple claims to be the sweetest in the world. It was delicious and we had some with most of our meals. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/50b48fff-06bc-4ca5-a102-ffea2317de91/Antigua-224203289.jpg Blog - Antigua - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d6faf121-fa98-4c12-9d32-70f59f3898ab/Antigua-.jpg Blog - Antigua - Make it stand out We had a fantastic week relaxing and swimming at the resort. Note, Joe left his camera at home and all pictures were taken with a Pixel 8A. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/arizona-snow monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5b5d8ab4-37d2-4618-adda-8a39a7947156/Arizona+Snow-.jpg Blog - Arizona Snow - Make it stand out It snowed down to 2500 ft elevation near Phoenix. Here are a few shots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/89f7e6e7-7e01-4c9d-ac57-7dc77203ceb6/Arizona+Snow-7783.jpg Blog - Arizona Snow - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2e6b8780-cc0a-419b-a248-ad8ea75f3bd8/Arizona+Snow-7706.jpg Blog - Arizona Snow - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/palo-duro-canyon-state-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/09c59240-af5e-470d-8c9d-53295958f417/Palo+Duro+State+Park--2.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out Palo Duro vista. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9b3874eb-96ae-4fa0-81a8-b5ffd228c9c5/Palo+Duro+State+Park-0945.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out Hoodoo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2913b254-29ba-46b0-9d2b-2aa45a495957/Palo+Duro+State+Park-.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out We regularly saw turkeys in the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c4844460-00f9-46ac-a523-0d88b935f21d/Palo+Duro+State+Park--3.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out Road Runner Meep Meep https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f6e920f9-2c32-44cd-aa49-b2ed960f9132/Palo+Duro+State+Park-0758.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out Tarantula found near our camper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2fa2c4c3-7427-4727-8194-96bd7dc3a646/Palo+Duro+State+Park-0956.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out The hike to the Lighthouse is considered one of the best in the park. However, it was closed due to flood damage during our visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4d4d7033-2a51-4982-8698-d2bdf193f5bd/Palo+Duro+State+Park-0903.jpg Blog - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Make it stand out Incoming storm. There were severe storms our entire visit which led to closed trails and floods. Luckily for us the tornados and softball sized hail missed. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/standing-on-a-corner-in-winslow-az monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6ca3a5fc-91d6-4863-9245-bf37e2c837d7/Winslow-.jpg Blog - Standing on a Corner in Winslow, AZ - Make it stand out Standing on a Corner in Winslow Arizona. The entire corner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0097468e-9d90-4fad-9ae8-6f2e7f0096bd/Winslow-0018.jpg Blog - Standing on a Corner in Winslow, AZ - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/36f4a87f-6acd-4b04-9336-0bec5f34c0fe/Winslow--2.jpg Blog - Standing on a Corner in Winslow, AZ - Make it stand out Little Painted Desert near Winslow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/01823063-1c70-4645-9368-7cb846f8846f/Winslow--3.jpg Blog - Standing on a Corner in Winslow, AZ - Make it stand out Sunset Little Painted Desert with San Francisco Peaks in the background. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/superstition-vistas monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0c6495bb-7c41-4d29-abc5-ffd241c76a79/Superstitions-4184.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Rare foggy morning in the Superstitions. Sunrise and low fog https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c27ac656-bb1d-4966-b688-536b34d49abe/Superstitions-4176.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fb37a277-e00c-44e7-8ec0-3cf03ba9f2fb/Superstitions-4214.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Really foggy morning https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2fce74b6-5998-4bb5-bdad-1ab94cc4088b/Superstitions-2654.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Superstition Cougar which makes an appearance each March and September when the sun is in the perfect spot for this shadow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/27a9b295-77c3-472b-9892-e7446de2702c/Superstitions-1172.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out View looking down the Peralta Canyon Trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c907d828-875a-42fb-b594-26c4bd9e60ea/Superstitions-.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Sunrise near Picket Post Mountain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/09144f6a-1808-4a02-9df8-64c6cb971b93/Superstitions-5939-2.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Three Sisters formation on the south side of Superstition Mountain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f05f9387-d9bd-4f06-8f23-988b58cc9ad1/Superstitions--3.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Super Bloom Sunrise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e1e8b32f-eeb5-44c0-b8f4-511e4d1b7eb7/Superstitions--2.jpg Blog - Superstition Vistas - Make it stand out Weaver's Needle a lava plug from an extinct volcano. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/sedona-west-fork-oak-creek monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9844c07f-dcec-43ac-8802-6a1d25bb8650/Sedona--9.jpg Blog - Sedona - West Fork Oak Creek - Make it stand out West Fork Trail is a fantastic hike through Oak Creek, featuring 13 river crossings, a subway tunnel at the end and a fraction of the crowds found on other popular hikes in Sedona. One of many interesting sights along the hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1bf5d66d-7e85-4b14-9710-fbc7c71717ba/Sedona--11.jpg Blog - Sedona - West Fork Oak Creek - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/15198b77-038e-4825-a1a9-aa3158eb2d32/Sedona-3693.jpg Blog - Sedona - West Fork Oak Creek - Make it stand out I went in late fall and there was some snow along the trail. One of the creek crossings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b2f58f45-6c66-477b-9733-44e25c751590/Sedona-3735.jpg Blog - Sedona - West Fork Oak Creek - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d4427589-fd39-4f34-8bae-35dbef3fbdeb/Sedona--12.jpg Blog - Sedona - West Fork Oak Creek - Make it stand out I went in late fall and there was some snow along the trail. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/sedona-robbers-roost-and-chocolate-falls monthly 0.5 2026-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ce691645-0d56-43a8-b158-a34cbc52ead0/Flagstaff-.jpg Blog - Sedona Robbers Roost and Chocolate Falls - Make it stand out This is Grand Falls, aka Chocolate Falls, located near Flagstaff, AZ. It is currently closed due to poor behavior of visitors. The falls are fed by the snowmelt and rain from the White Mountains and flow into the Little Colorado River and only flow intermittently. Grand Falls is 181 feet tall which is just a few feet taller than Niagara Falls so it is an amazing site. The water is truly chocolate milk brown and extremely opaque. This is due to the very loose sandy soils of the Little Colorado River basin and the high velocity and flow required for water to actually reach the falls. Robbers Roost is a beautiful cave located off the beaten path near Sedona, AZ. It is a short hike to reach the cave, but there is a lot of exposure to the risk of falling as the last 20 ft or so is about the width of one shoe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c1d7bf1f-a25b-4656-9a92-7bcf3558bf45/Sedona--3.jpg Blog - Sedona Robbers Roost and Chocolate Falls - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8a241fb4-0cef-43cc-b6b0-774c36bb98a5/Sedona--7.jpg Blog - Sedona Robbers Roost and Chocolate Falls - Make it stand out You will need to walk/climb across this steep slope to reach the cave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9a41b4b5-96fb-497b-a4ae-8dea376340c8/Sedona--8.jpg Blog - Sedona Robbers Roost and Chocolate Falls - Make it stand out This circular hole makes for a perfect picture frame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4b6be6a7-bf25-44b4-bbb4-95e73496aa19/Sedona-3644.jpg Blog - Sedona Robbers Roost and Chocolate Falls - Make it stand out The cave is the dark spot near the top of the hill and just right of center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/52b112cc-7056-4426-a084-3f25a8679f7b/Sedona--5.jpg Blog - Sedona Robbers Roost and Chocolate Falls - Make it stand out This is the view from the cave. You are far enough from Sedona that this is a peaceful area has almost no human noise. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/sedona-subway monthly 0.5 2026-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/63992753-5d0f-4dfe-bdb0-6293c4b3bb51/Sedona-.jpg Blog - Sedona Subway - Make it stand out The Boynton Canyon Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Sedona area and with good reason. A few miles into the hike is a spur trail that leads to the Subway. With a little scrambling most people can get into it. These are Sinagua ruins. The Sinagua people occupied the area from Flagstaff to Camp Verde and most of the Mogollon Rim from 650 to 1425 CE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2045c3a0-7014-444c-b29f-8841ab51d0ab/Sedona-2066.jpg Blog - Sedona Subway - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/afcb15db-21c0-4d71-8fa5-f7fa4dbf1ce8/Sedona-2053.jpg Blog - Sedona Subway - Make it stand out Turtle petroglyph found near the ruins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3a19c58c-419c-408d-9907-e424618e6a0e/Sedona-2068.jpg Blog - Sedona Subway - Make it stand out This is an example of a hanging garden. The sandstone in this area contains enough moisture for this type of plant to thrive as long as it is in the shade for most of each day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3650bdda-6a38-49e8-80d7-0ac7c82a3d38/Sedona-2069.jpg Blog - Sedona Subway - Make it stand out View down Boynton Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bb1200df-a2f4-4cd7-90c9-f26b38cf934b/Sedona--2.jpg Blog - Sedona Subway - Make it stand out Pretty butterfly found along the trail. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/arizona-birds-bees-and-butterflies monthly 0.5 2026-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/53c52ca1-7c74-4220-a987-41f9c22e6f26/Arizona+Critters-1013.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Road Runner (meep meep) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/183a545a-dd24-43a6-94cb-1866ee90f7ec/Arizona+Critters--5.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Phainopepla, or "bad hair day" bird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d610e5cd-f7df-416b-99ca-5b6363bdeecb/Arizona+Critters--6.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Black Throated Sparrow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a2c21f22-b3ab-4a90-b56e-159680960f84/Arizona+Critters-.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Cactus Wrens https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c5e18fac-c74b-4a14-902b-de9b220d5c18/Arizona+Critters--3.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Purple Finch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0f12be4c-4b58-40e9-9ed7-311f6994c461/Arizona+Critters--8.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Africanized Honey Bee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/71bf362b-ef81-4cdc-a54c-2a430234f301/Arizona+Critters-1701.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Incoming Africanized Honey Bee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6046f41e-df03-48e3-992e-d4e0d7d3d5f7/Arizona+Critters--7.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Arizona Cardinal, looking sad after a loss to the Packers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d5b41fc5-70f2-4f97-b933-80448bda5bda/Arizona+Critters--16.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Gambel's Quail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5f90e1bd-c9c1-46f6-8f14-c89716e06ead/Arizona+Critters--17.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Black Chinned Hummingbird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/35a10633-719e-4b20-95e8-5ccd770d2b79/Arizona+Critters-2346.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Black Chinned Hummingibrd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8676b8ca-3571-4626-bbcf-f45b2713368d/Arizona+Critters--18.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Black Chinned hummingbird getting a sip of nectar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4da01df6-4af5-43bf-bd3f-b7f82e1c8350/Arizona+Critters--19.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Anna's Hummingbird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b0e39bc2-35eb-4b8d-b5e2-40f5e5a77962/Arizona+Critters--20.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Anna's Hummingbird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0f294ccd-606e-4339-8fcb-d7eca7d01ae2/Arizona+Critters--21.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Anna's Hummingbird https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ff635ac7-e394-4821-b869-73f4404a705b/Arizona+Critters-1853.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Clouded Sulfur Butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0eab4d3c-fe24-434f-b7c2-8f3034ece1a5/Arizona+Critters--12.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Clouded Sulfur Butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/78e3abc6-0610-4d59-85f1-f79167c983f6/Arizona+Critters--22.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Burrowing Owl https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3a08d1a4-1f8f-439a-b63d-231bc0f84114/Arizona+Critters--13.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Mexican Amberwing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dac17cb9-a7ff-4ac9-8b5f-8f5faa0c280e/Arizona+Critters--24.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out American White Pelicans https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a5b11a66-87ee-4df0-805f-1f7bf42f5b52/Arizona+Critters--10.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Ring necked duck taking off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7ccce968-4c21-4fa9-8687-a46239377b18/Arizona+Critters--9.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Great egret https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2365caa7-2e05-4933-8d10-cba77bc70360/Arizona+Critters-0861.jpg Blog - Arizona Birds, Bees, and Butterflies - Make it stand out Mexican Jay https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/florida-critters monthly 0.5 2026-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e8027caa-6297-42fb-917a-aef5adbf5174/Florida+Critters-.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out White Ibis incoming https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e15ee9b5-c64f-4d7e-b2bb-cb92e87da481/Space+Coast--2.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Alligator, of course - this is Florida! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/aa0c0d83-6968-4147-b180-548f7257b2a7/Space+Coast-0611.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out North American White Pelican https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f3ac5aa1-7cf6-44bf-8a54-188e4b632dc9/Florida+Critters--2.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Roseate Spoonbill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2578cf97-696c-4233-8685-082ab8c3b804/Florida+Critters--3.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Tri-Colored Heron fishing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/133969b7-9e2f-4133-a899-0968a3565a05/Florida+Critters-9885.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Kingfisher https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/df62ab4b-0a6c-4d49-86f6-c847936af993/Florida+Critters-0789.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Cormorant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ae92e6d1-b6bf-4208-955c-1bd139d6fc32/Florida+Critters--4.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Reddish Egret https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/80f4bff8-870c-43d3-8ac2-586b9007f91c/Space+Coast-0344.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Green Heron https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c7a562c2-97ae-4006-8511-434383a9325b/Florida+Critters-8689.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Threatened Scrub Jay https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1a43445f-5d75-44e1-84ca-33829a7f2b59/St+Augustine--3.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Short-billed Dowitcher https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8f1444f9-a3c7-4aa3-9783-0b984a9d9d4b/Space+Coast-.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Sea Gull Disagreement https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6a437a36-fcdb-4bf9-a4c5-ae227bfd0040/Florida+Critters--5.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Turbo Powered Pelican https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/319e76c4-0714-4f71-a453-093d042a65d0/Space+Coast-4.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out A really BIG bird! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a6cc06b1-bde0-431b-8ee9-8a9c70efbdf6/Space+Coast--4.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Pileated Woodpecker https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/73ab4f77-8ff5-4dcf-8c62-b3d4941b1d3a/Florida+Critters-8326.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Red Shouldered Hawk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/74e73702-170b-4635-a800-f22d24024186/Space+Coast--5.jpg Blog - Florida Critters - Make it stand out Goldfinch https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/grand-canyon-storms-and-sunset monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cf476cde-9715-460d-9427-59471e95a338/2021+Grand+Canyon+-.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out Monsoon rains moving from north to south toward the Desert View Overlook in the eastern Grand Canyon. (In this and the two following pictures, the rain is coming toward the Joe.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f0bf63fa-5d7a-4b76-ad07-0c61e2ad8a09/2021+Grand+Canyon+--2.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out A second monsoon storm moving from west to east toward the Desert view Overlook in the Grand Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/996bdf71-3ca6-4a23-9ace-1ccdc4dcd5c8/2021+Grand+Canyon+--3.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out Last photo before Joe ran for the truck. Running is difficult at 7000 ft in elevation! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ad497fd8-ca53-4c7a-bb08-c7a3b3cd6934/2021+Grand+Canyon+--4.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out The sunset after the storms was beautiful. This is looking north from the Navajo Overlook, about a mile from the earlier photos. It also is one pf the photos on the wall in our house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0a1d2265-9267-4329-889b-8c8c4c019e50/2021+Grand+Canyon+--5.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out Looking west from the Navajo Overlook just after sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f97b2117-fbb3-47e4-8bb5-0da69508cb79/2021+Grand+Canyon+--6.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out Looking west from the Navajo Overlook just after sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/155cfd8b-4af3-4d11-841a-74efdaf1e733/2021+Grand+Canyon+-0938.jpg Blog - Grand Canyon Storms and Sunset - Make it stand out Right behind Joe from the prior photo was this tree bathed in evening light with the departing storms behind it. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/michigans-upper-peninsula-2 monthly 0.5 2026-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5ad839af-95b2-4fee-9555-f3280044cd42/Upper+Peninsula+Michigan+Houghton+Bridge-0642.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Portage canal lift bridge in Houghton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c261c927-b615-43f5-ab55-04d1b0dbbdc3/Upper+Penninsula-0457.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Canyon Falls is found along US Hwy 41 and it is a short hike to this beautiful waterfall The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is framed by lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron, and the state of Wisconsin. It is known for being a year-round outdoor recreation destination, and is also the home of Michigan Tech, where Shaun graduated and now works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b4635102-8c95-4390-ba2b-2f9065073608/Upper+Penninsula-0445.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Wild flowers near Canyon Falls While in Houghton Joe visited his mom in West Virginia, our daughter Kellie and our grandkids in Minnesota, brother Tim also in Minnesota, and several friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d10d559c-70a3-4795-b9e5-1f3f67640b33/Minnesota-0258.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Showy Lady Slipper found at the University of Minnesota arboretum At the top of the Keweenaw Peninsula is Copper Harbor, famous for beautiful scenery, mountain biking, hiking, and lots of snow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cf955111-7e80-4d20-9659-63388fddc7d7/Upper+Penninsula-0161.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Upper Falls of the Montreal River near Copper Harbor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/31835cf3-8ae6-443e-815d-0aa0a7878745/Upper+Penninsula-1069.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Near Copper harbor is Medora Lake, seen on a foggy day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5907dcbd-3ceb-4004-943c-d5527f0f06c3/Upper+Penninsula-0097.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Monarch butterfly found on the hike to Montreal Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d755652a-ff67-4656-b911-4c0d9a028977/Upper+Penninsula--2.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out O Kun de Kun Falls is a short hike from US Hwy 45. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/db16e397-06ae-4c53-b790-bec45483847b/Upper+Penninsula-0016.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Lake Superior sunset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0337ea50-7454-4ac5-8202-09da9a69064c/Upper+Penninsula-0595.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Least Skippers found in Houghton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/48d1209e-d7c4-477d-a502-135d8340e9dc/Upper+Penninsula-0191.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Beautiful pink Lupine found near Houghton City RV Park where Joe stayed https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/259c56d0-35c4-452c-92e4-3609c5335d04/Upper+Penninsula-0101.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Fascinating Fringed Polygala, aka Gaywings, near the RV park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c5672dff-3a3f-45b4-a9c0-699d5bed80fc/Upper+Penninsula-1503.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Grasshopper found along a bike trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/58a953d5-877c-4613-a880-779f1df987c8/Upper+Penninsula-0199.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Unnamed tiny waterfall in Houghton Shaun and the cats are happy in their new home and Joe is now back in Mesa, AZ with Jane and our cat Zazzy who is very happy to have both of her people again. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/arizona-to-michigan-run monthly 0.5 2026-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b80391dd-5b82-4b8b-b4a1-fd85c8da68d8/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0357.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out Ancient rivers deposited the material in these beautiful hills https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d7112697-88e3-4e33-9446-1bbc3430fcec/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0332.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out What the river deposits look like after erosion https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/af3ee394-6c65-4e02-8d4f-6a18b50ef1cf/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0360.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out Blue Mesa looks like a nice hike Day two ended in a stop at Mesa Verde National Park. It features amazing Native American ruins. The people who lived here must have been part mountain goat in order to get to their homes. The ruins are located at 8000 feet in elevation, so winters were no picnic either. Due to covid, access to the ruins was closed when Joe was there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ee735f08-ee36-4a21-83f1-030d2adf8504/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0383.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out These ruins are easily viewed along a scenic drive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dec425f6-5d93-4fc0-8c3f-70c57cf577bd/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0414.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/488eb1fc-13f3-4ece-9ab4-6c9c9495a841/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0407.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out The scenic drive is a great way to see the ruins from a distance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1e12987e-e3c4-471b-8d85-141d362b283d/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0444.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out Scariest part of the trip was the way down from here! Next day's stop included an evening at Great Sand Dunes National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cf8662f7-22bb-48be-af1c-68371f995b16/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0584.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out The dunes are over 700 feet tall! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dcd75708-04cc-4cc0-87f2-992b4d9ca495/Arizona+to+Mchigan+Run-0561.jpg Blog - Arizona to Michigan Run - Make it stand out The wind always blows! After Sand Dunes Nation Park Joe had run out of national parks between Arizona and Michigan and needed to put more effort into driving each day. He safely arrived the night before Shaun moved out of the apartment into the camper. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/space-coast monthly 0.5 2026-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fe163dbd-99e8-461d-bd24-4655284ef85b/Space+Coast-4.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out SpaceX launching a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, seen from Playalinda Beach in Cape Canaveral National Seashore. This is about as close as you can legally watch a launch and also see the launch pad - about 4.7 miles from launch pad 39A. Kennedy Space Center is a massive complex that has been the epicenter of the US exploration of space. Last time we took the tour and visited the museum and they are both well worth the visit and we would go again. Just standing beside a Saturn rocket or a space shuttle is amazing. This time we watched three launches - two SpaceX launches and a Delta IV. It is an awesome experience to hear the sound of the rocket as it accelerates through the sound barrier and feel some of the vibrations of the rocket. Also, if you get lucky the first stage will return to earth at the space center and you can watch it land. The destination of the payload determines where the first stage lands. The options are at sea on a robot boat or back at the space center. In 2020 there were a record 36 launches and future years look even busier. However, be aware that rocket launches do not always happen as originally scheduled so you need to be flexible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f43121bf-2127-4c40-984d-16c515378491/Space+Coast-8587.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Supplies on the way to the International Space Station https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ce22cfb6-2264-4be7-ac3c-1a966bc466e3/Space+Coast-.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Playalinda Beach shorebirds having an animated discussion. We accessed the seashore from Titusville for rocket launches and just enjoying the beach. There are 13 parking lots available for a day at the beach. Be aware that parking lot 13 and the beach north of it are used for nude sunbathing, so if that isn't your thing stop before the end of the road. In the winter the seashore is never crowded, except when a rocket launch is scheduled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5583efa9-e3ac-4bf4-aee2-8f50d1c26858/Space+Coast-8254.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Short-billed Dowitcher strutting in the surf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f46a73f9-48c5-4dcb-88c1-f6aa06c1e4eb/Space+Coast-9874.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Female Belted Kingfisher, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge The refuge traces its beginnings to the development of our Space Program. In 1962, NASA acquired 140,000 acres of land, water, and marshes adjacent to Cape Canaveral to establish the John F. Kennedy Space Center. NASA built a launch complex and other space-related facilities, but development of most of the area was not necessary. In 1963 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed an agreement to establish the refuge and in 1975 a second agreement established Canaveral National Seashore. Today, the Department of Interior manages most of the unused portions of the Kennedy Space Center as a National Wildlife Refuge and National Seashore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ed872c81-8650-437f-939c-4862f697528d/Space+Coast-8689.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Threatened Scrub Jay, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge One of our favorite places in the refuge is the Black Point Auto Drive, which is a one-way seven-mile loop through a number of marshes. You will find thousands of birds and also will usually see several alligators. We think this is the best place to view birds in the refuge. However, you never know what you will find beside the road. Joe found a bunch of egrets and wood storks in trees by a railroad crossing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8829b5c4-dfaf-4e09-8b5b-4e68ac5f147e/Space+Coast--2.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Small (only about 6 feet) Alligator, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/612e8f41-a377-484a-b3ce-ed4767f56e27/Space+Coast-8795.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out White Ibis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/360751dd-e90f-45ff-b619-39c817679f19/Space+Coast-9529.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Roseate Spoonbill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ded7ca97-90e2-478c-9277-5c04a643183c/Space+Coast--3.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Reddish Egret https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ddc71df8-bee9-4028-b19d-7aba144fc04a/Space+Coast-9814.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Alligator along Black Point Auto Drive (Another small one. The picture of the big one didn't turn out well.) Our other favorite place is the Indian River Lagoon, which we access from a kayak launch site at the Haulover Canal. We don't usually take cameras while kayaking so no photos. We do, however, usually get a chance to kayak near the dolphins and have seen turtles and rays at various times. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/16dfb013-c5be-42e7-bcb3-b8aa1ec0b77c/Space+Coast-9123.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Tricolored Heron https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2c9d4ddd-34c7-4535-8c78-59701b9efe17/Space+Coast-0611.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out American White Pelican with its 9 foot wingspan and 6 foot long body https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a0322ced-07cf-410d-a313-a4d51c4ef926/Space+Coast-0344.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Green Heron https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b2ec87b2-62be-47be-b1c0-56defeb36f04/Space+Coast--4.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Pileated Woodpecker, Salt Lake WMA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/da4dc7d1-b20b-4246-b6db-852cde907710/Space+Coast--5.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Female Goldfinch, Salt Lake WMA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e5fe8661-9ccd-47eb-ab76-07a15baef1c1/Space+Coast-0139.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Manatees just downstream from Blue Springs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6639d7fe-7dbe-4d87-95cd-fd0b3e0cfc96/Space+Coast-0143.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Manatee enjoying the 72-degree water Water activities (swimming, fishing, kayaking) usually are closed during manatee season, but there are several hiking trails in the area, including one along the water where there are observation decks to allow viewing of the manatees. The manatees are attracted to the 72-degree water that the Blue Springs spew out at the rate of 102,000,000 gallons per day! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b8149563-3a62-48a2-a472-2ba985cd6e29/Space+Coast-0134.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out This squirrel wanted a portrait made https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8f597cd5-87b3-4fb7-b7d1-a0b548577524/Space+Coast-0974.jpg Blog - Space Coast - Make it stand out Native plants along the trail Florida's Space Coast is loaded with things to do. The Atlantic Ocean, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando Theme Parks (about an hour inland), Cocoa Beach, fantastic seafood (and all the other kinds of food are great too), Daytona Speedway, and we're sure we missed a bunch of things. So if you are looking for a great place to vacation you can't miss here. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/st-augustine-area monthly 0.5 2026-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eb71970b-91bf-47d2-b0d0-6dbd3b441986/St+Augustine-0803.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Good morning St Augustine Joe only went out for the sunrise a few times this visit, but he chose wisely and caught some good ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/86f383f8-63f2-4920-a89f-d99733305089/St+Augustine--3.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Dunlin looking for a meal The shorebird population was down compared to prior years, but those that were at the beach provided some good entertainment. It is fun to watch them dodging the waves, finding food, and generally cruising around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ed885d16-69b0-4827-8f90-1c9a117fccc5/St+Augustine-7991.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Brown Pelican cruising Butler Beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fe8c4bdd-df80-4945-978a-e6020795ae99/St+Augustine-7204.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Gulf Fritillary Butterfly While there weren't many birds, the butterflies made up for it. They were plentiful and many different varieties were around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/824378c6-3936-4c14-ac8b-f87ad8754457/St+Augustine-7252.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Zebra Longwing Butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cf1bbc7f-2d9e-475d-a517-bb81473e9e45/St+Augustine-7267.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out White Peacock Butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bbbd7b30-cfb8-4c42-b640-68ae84af1c75/St+Augustine-7283.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Common Buckeye Butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0c935fbe-d674-4f7c-bfa2-bf5f7d1bc3d5/St+Augustine-0894.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Butler Beach Sunrise - mere moments before a big thunderstorm hit. On this morning a thunderstorm with near 50 mph winds and heavy rain was just to the west when this photo was taken. Joe was soaked when he got back to the camper about 100 yards from where he took this photo above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/25db0d91-1c1d-4d18-ac1c-b351437321ab/St+Augustine-0827.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out SpaceX sending astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time as seen from from about 100 miles away https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fd146270-4751-4939-a6b2-39b457d3f50e/St+Augustine-8107.jpg Blog - St Augustine Area - Make it stand out Short Billed Dowitcher looking for lunch St Augustine, we'll be back in a few years. Hopefully next time less rain, no pandemic, and more sunshine, OK? https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/north-carolina-dupont-state-forest monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/37b5c2f2-5de9-40f6-85cd-c856392101b0/Shenandoah-0680.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out Hooker Falls It is easy to bypass state parks and forests in favor of the national parks and forests as we travel around North America. Recently we have started to visit more state parks and forests, especially while east of the Mississippi River. North Carolina's DuPont State Forest during the leaf peeping season is well worth the visit. As a bonus for us it is located not too far from Jane's mom (and sister). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fada56c7-db8b-4f82-97d2-3c0a1555b5b9/Shenandoah-0747.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out Random small falls near the trail DuPont State Forest is managed for recreation. In its 10,473 acres you will find 82 miles of trails and primitive roads that can be used by hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7f802c43-7c72-4280-ba86-763f233ab7ed/DuPont+State+Forest-0714.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out Leaf peeping season in the Appalachian mountians The forest features four waterfalls along the Little River. All of them are reachable in one hike of about 7 miles that includes lots of uphill hiking. Joe visited three of the falls on his day visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5e55abd0-812c-4e18-9162-c0112886c230/DuPont+State+Forest-0716.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out View of Little River from the covered bridge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4953b620-6e90-45b2-9105-8997a674f100/DuPont+State+Forest-0727.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out View of Little River from the covered bridge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4917a85c-0871-4ef8-abe9-726cee3bc1ee/DuPont+State+Park-0704.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out High Falls, the highest falls in the forest at 120 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f2429f49-72ff-4853-ac3c-0469ca75b4ac/DuPont+State+Forest-0692.jpg Blog - North Carolina - DuPont State Forest - Make it stand out Triple Falls DuPont State Forest, located in western North Carolina, is a popular fall hiking location, especially on weekends. The falls are beautiful and the trails are generally wide and well maintained. Next time we visit Jane's mom Joe hopes to make a return trip. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/shenandoah-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/928b6b1b-f6ad-4367-abbf-5add3e85be20/Shenandoah-0623.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out Dark Hollow Falls, the shortest waterfall hike in the park at 1.4 miles. In Take Me Home Country Roads, John Denver sang "Almost heaven West Virginia; Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River". For years we have read, and believed, that both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River are in Virginia, not West Virginia. While doing a little research for this blog, we discovered they are actually in both states. Sorry, John. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a6f71afa-cf78-4b90-af02-7e6d0eb4b69f/Shenandoah-0671.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out View of the Blue Ridge Mountains looking toward West Virginia Stretching more than a hundred miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is a mix of wilderness and farmland. Located between the Shenandoah Valley in the west and the Piedmont region in the east, the park includes wooded hollows, summits, mountain streams, and waterfalls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c0daf0f1-9196-4213-a912-5323c1e441f5/Shenandoah-0613.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out Dark Hollow Creek Inspired by Yellowstone and other parks in the West, a national reserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains was first proposed in 1901. When the campaign stalled, Virginians took it upon themselves to make the park a reality. Using eminent domain, the commonwealth acquired property from some 5,000 landholders and donated the parcels to the federal government. The park was established 1935. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/81ceedb8-8c40-4522-ba49-849e35663b2f/Shenandoah-.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out Dark Hollow Creek There are two ways to traverse the length of the park. The easy way is Skyline Drive, which was constructed in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is 105 miles of scenic overlooks, trailheads, picnic areas, visitor centers and campgrounds between Front Royal in the north and Rockfish Gap in the south. The hard way is by hiking the hundred or so miles of the Appalachian Trail that run through the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/48012857-0701-4e6d-a972-f3ca25b4787c/Shenandoah-0632.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out Foggy morning Big Meadows We spent three days in Luray, VA and explored the middle section of the park. The leaf season was in full swing while we drove about 40 miles of Skyline Drive. We stopped at numerous overlooks and enjoyed views of both the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Piedmont to the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/52310a68-87a9-4ace-b90d-4938455c1e3f/Shenandoah-0651.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out Praying Mantis hanging out on top of a small wall. Big Meadows is well named since it’s the largest open area in the entire park. The meadow's location directly across from a visitor center makes it easily accessible. The large grassy plain is a surprise along Skyline Drive after miles and miles of forest landscape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f244a129-9471-47f6-bf08-775f45a9442b/Shenandoah-0666.jpg Blog - Shenandoah National Park - Make it stand out View of the Blue Ridge Mountains Shenandoah National Park is beautiful, accessible, and during the leaf season, crowded. We saw lots of other people, even on a weekday. If you want to enjoy the fall leaves without the crowds, we would recommend other areas. We found just as much beauty and many fewer people in the area around Blackwater Falls in West Virginia. Wherever you go, some day make sure you visit the mountains of West Virginia, Virginia, or North Carolina during the fall color season. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/blackwater-falls-state-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/134d69ba-8cea-4c16-b1ca-15b87d1d8935/Blackwater+Falls-0419.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out Blackwater Falls Blackwater Falls State Park is named for the dark amber waters of Blackwater Falls, a 57-foot cascade tinted by the tannic acid of fallen hemlock and spruce needles. The falls, along with a few of the park’s other features like Elakala Falls, Lindy Point and Pendleton Point, are some of the state’s most photographed spots. We remember seeing several of them on the telephone book cover while growing up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f52f16d2-5946-4ed3-be09-6698fc3b8d66/Blackwater+Falls-0233.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out Elakala Falls located near the Blackwater Falls Lodge. This approximately 2400-acre park is well-designed and maintained. It is very easy to access the main features of the park and there is more than the usual parking available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c528e947-fb23-48eb-ad53-cb918d99de99/Blackwater+Falls-0226.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out View just above Elakala Falls Joe did a hike to Elakala Falls and Balanced Rock one day. Elakala Falls was the highlight of the park for him. It is a peaceful, beautiful falls located not very far from the lodge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/09ff95ee-db75-4f94-802e-5f1ef81ee63d/Blackwater+Falls-0268.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out Blackwater River Joe and Jane enjoyed the namesake falls of the park. We visited in early October and the water flow was low. However, even at low flow the falls are beautiful, especially framed by the fall colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8383fb8a-5d2c-47e5-ab46-20efc2c88f4b/Blackwater+Falls-.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out View along the Elakala Trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5c532d5a-f3cc-41ef-8b79-f08d370be9b8/Blackwater+Falls-0243.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out One leaf landed in this fir tree https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/82e65427-115e-4aba-b714-124dfd683e6a/Blackwater+Falls--2.jpg Blog - Blackwater Falls State Park - Make it stand out Lindy Point We really enjoyed Blackwater Falls and encourage you to include the park on one of your West Virginia trips! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/west-virginia-mountains monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3800440a-7609-460a-9d49-90c64caab510/West+Virginia-0305.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out View of the Appalachian Mountains from Bear Rocks Preserve in Dolly Sods. You can see Shenandoah National Park in this photo...if you know where to look - it is really tiny. Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with sweeping vistas and plants normally found much farther north in Canada. The distinctive landscape of Dolly Sods is characterized by 'flagged' trees with the branches only on the downwind side, wind-carved boulders, low-growing shrubby habitat, grassy meadows created in the last century by logging and fires, and ancient sphagnum bogs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1cbf7ee1-e474-4a2c-b3df-3d2acee264f8/West+Virginia-0357.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out The blueberry bushes were beautiful when we visited Dolly Sods. Dolly Sods is now (the protected area has grown some over the decades) about 32,000 acres of wilderness with lots of hiking trails, campsites, picnic areas, and scenic views. It is accessed via several miles of narrow gravel roads and includes limited parking that can make it look really crowded. Joe was there on a day when parking was at a premium, but once people entered the wilderness it was easy to feel like you had the whole place to yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e70bee9b-b551-4e5a-85ff-aaddab598cbb/West+Virginia-0360.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out Bear Rocks Joe explored the Bear Rocks area, possibly the most well known region of Dolly Sods. It is owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy. It is less than 500 acres, but wow what a beautiful 500 acres. It is crisscrossed with numerous trails, so it can accommodate many visitors. It also has amazing views from the rocks along the Allegheny Front. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/01edc64b-4e3c-4225-afb2-4798bf823ae4/West+Virginia-0292.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out Foggy West Virginia sunrise as seen along US 219. The islands in the fog are mountain tops. This photo was taken from a scenic overlook along the highway. No hiking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4a1661ef-c8f7-4738-a8dd-ed728a891412/West+Virginia-0374.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out Albert Falls near Thomas, WV This area has lots of creeks and rivers that not only are full of fish, but also have beautiful waterfalls. The North Fork of the Blackwater River is easily accessed from the town of Thomas and includes Douglas Falls and several great small falls. Douglas Falls, at 35 feet tall, is the largest of the falls we found. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8774fa88-fca1-4bc8-97cc-eb44b7457aea/West+Virginia-0405.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out North Fork Blackwater River https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3775177e-1c5d-4a74-beab-2ba1fc8a9d8c/West+Virginia-0397.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out Douglas Falls near Thomas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ea69bd2a-8ede-43c9-8e07-fd12f628063f/West+Virginia-0427.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out WV barn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b896a137-26e7-4b2d-92ef-e3913a488640/West+Virginia-0444.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out Seneca Rocks Seneca Rocks is a large crag in the Spruce Knob - Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area in northeastern WV. One of the best-known scenic attractions in West Virginia, the sheer rock faces are a popular challenge for rock climbers. Many days if you look closely you can see the climbers as tiny moving dots on the cliff face. There is a hike to an observation deck near the base of the cliffs. We chose not to hike it and went to Spruce Knob instead. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/afface35-94f9-4c51-8d01-7cdecb055742/West+Virginia-0475.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out View from Spruce Knob. Highest point in WV at 4863 ft. Spruce Knob is WV's highest point at 4863 ft. It is a 12-mile drive along a better than average wilderness paved road all the way to the top. Along the way and at the top are backpacking and hiking options. We chose a 1/2 mile loop that included the observation tower. The views from the peak seem to stretch forever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1aec43a2-3eb7-440d-bac4-9d74820719af/West+Virginia-0515.jpg Blog - West Virginia Mountains - Make it stand out Cheat River near Parsons where we camped. West Virginia, the Mountain State, is aptly nicknamed. (It's actually a dissected plateau, but who are we to judge?) It is a great place to explore the eastern mountains without the crowds of Shenandoah and Smoky Mountains National Parks. We will continue to explore our home state each time we are in the area. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/new-river-gorge-national-river monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0eb87dfa-8a78-4df0-80a5-0f60b62d7af7/New+River+Gorge-0095.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out Night view of the Chapel at Rippling Waters Conference Center and RV Park where we stayed while visiting Charleston The New River is a rugged whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons. It is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The New River Gorge National Park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along 53 miles of the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ecd7a29f-41d6-4203-9732-d29cf1b661e3/New+River+Gorge-0153.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out WV's Horseshoe Bend - Grandview Overlook We only visited the park for one day and chose to visit Grandview. From 1400 feet above the river at the Main Overlook we could see directly into the heart of New River Gorge National River, including seven miles of the New River and its watershed. It is a fantastic view. It reminded us of Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River in Arizona, but this one is green instead of brown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c1c3d4cf-55c0-40e0-a5e3-db26015d6ce2/New+River+Gorge-.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out A good example of the trail conditions. Jane was able to do it with the help of her hiking sticks. After the overlook we hiked the Castle Rock and Grandview Rim Trails. The Castle Rock Trail is a 0.6 mile hike rated as strenuous. The strenuous rating is due to most of the 0.6 miles being boulder- hopping and climbing around the rock-strewn path. After completing the Castle Rock Trail we hiked the much easier Grandview Rim Trail back to our truck. We really enjoyed the hike: great views and amazing cliffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9c7e4a69-a78d-42a2-8000-e30018912f95/New+River+Gorge-0203.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out Tiny tree with both of its leaves looking very pretty https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1ae23e5d-5478-40d6-84b1-6e227c28a11f/New+River+Gorge--2.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out Native Violets https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0f5f8a01-0030-4e8d-9eb5-c7e8b13d5f25/New+River+Gorge--3.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out This is the largest burl we have ever seen on one of our hikes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5105732d-e3f8-42b9-bceb-50320a6c84af/New+River+Gorge--4.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out Small cliff section https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/82b18450-c2dd-4f65-8216-61e15d078f75/New+River+Gorge-0192.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out Beautiful cliff section https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/490c8d04-95d7-47df-b59f-b15dc16444cb/New+River+Gorge-0190.jpg Blog - New River Gorge National River - Make it stand out We liked this leaf that looks like a Dairy Queen Blizzard spoon. Next time we are in Charleston visiting Joe's mom we will return to the New River Gorge National River and visit the Bridge area. We have driven over the bridge several times, but need to take the trip into the gorge and under the bridge. If you get a chance to visit the New River Gorge National River it will be worth your time. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/the-upper-peninsula monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6f137d04-1803-4e67-bb79-b40d67fe20b3/Upper+Penninsula-.jpg Blog - The Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Lake Superior sunset While visiting our son Shaun in Houghton MI, we spent a Sunday afternoon at the Quincy Mine, which is a local landmark beloved by Michigan Tech students and alumni. It sits abandoned (except for tourism) atop a mountain overlooking Houghton and Hancock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6f5aecb3-1962-462d-bf36-ac7c3c952cb3/Upper+Penninsula-6952.jpg Blog - The Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Fall leaves on a little bush at Quincy Mine The history of Michigan's Upper Peninsula includes a large chapter about copper. In 1843, six years prior to California's Gold Rush, one of the nation's first mineral rushes occurred in the Keweenaw Peninsula. This was no gold rush, but a rush for elemental copper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/56e79c29-ac2a-48e7-8ff9-879d2569f0d7/Upper+Penninsula-6941.jpg Blog - The Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out View from No. 7 Boiler House The industrial revolution had triggered a huge increase in the demand for copper and the UP was the best place to get it. Copper led the region's economy for many decades, with the last mine closing in 1995. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/637a2f1a-1af3-4c01-8595-06f64d96c567/Upper+Penninsula-6932.jpg Blog - The Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Pretty flower growing in the ruins Quincy Mining Company was established in 1848. By 1880 it was the second largest mine in the Lake Superior region. The maximum depth mined at Quincy was 9260 feet. Moving men, ore, and water out of the mine required a ton of innovation and engineering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3070412e-8596-416b-9dac-1fa73a70ff3e/Upper+Penninsula-6938.jpg Blog - The Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Number 4 Hoist House Now visitors can learn what life as a copper miner was like by taking a tour of the 7th level below ground. (Tours are not available in 2020 due to the pandemic.) All 85 levels below the 7th level have filled with water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/57141945-d6ec-484f-8eaf-3997a71d5b4c/Upper+Penninsula-6943.jpg Blog - The Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Number 2 Shaft Rock House It was a fun day with Shaun. We hope to return sometime and actually take the tour and go underground. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/custer-south-dakota monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/64915d3a-a107-4593-8ccb-6078fc1c5eba/Black+Hills-6154.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Bison stampede when about 100 Harleys rode by. There were several hundred bison, Joe focused on a few since they were pretty spread out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0b0a3f02-bd85-436f-be5a-7e4e9ac99068/Black+Hills-6189.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Taking a break after the stampede https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cc33f5cc-c205-4a9f-8a88-013da1333699/Black+Hills-6244.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Custer State Park bull pronghorn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/78667702-4cfc-4762-954b-5021fd0d094e/Black+Hills-6305.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Custer State Park donkey. The Custer State Park Donkeys are found on the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop. They are very friendly, but do expect to be fed. We have seen folks offer them apples and carrots. The donkeys loved these offerings. Disclaimer, despite how friendly they are please remember they are still wild animals which is why we always stay back from them. This is an 18 mile drive where you will see bison, pronghorn and the donkeys. If you are lucky you will also see bighorn sheep; we weren't lucky this time. Plan to spend several hours on this drive and be ready to take lots of photos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0b0495a6-b0ac-4f32-b2be-c89ea0c6b06d/Black+Hills-6315.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Our campground was next door to the Crazy Horse Monument. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8d52ff25-cc76-43a1-a7f7-1bdbb72abeb8/Black+Hills-6352.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Campground chipmunk posing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9f9ebba3-9ff2-42c2-abfa-02d391721d81/Black+Hills-6363.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Campground squirrel posing https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cb071ef6-9046-49a4-b7b5-68bcedb94071/Black+Hills-6059.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Butterflies also pose https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b8dc638b-36e7-4f5a-be8c-5926308f8171/Black+Hills-.jpg Blog - Custer South Dakota - Make it stand out Woodpecker also posing. The whole Black Hills area is an amazing vacation spot. Great food, several micro breweries, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower National Monument, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park and much more. No wonder we have been there every year starting in 2016! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/capitol-reef-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6dd60c60-f948-4178-a827-bbc01d1cbfd9/Capital+Reef-5819.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Waterpocket Fold Capitol Reef National Park is easy to overlook when visiting southern Utah. It is competing with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Canyonlands for your attention. That is some tough competition. We were able to stop for a few days and left wanting to spend more time in this amazing place. It is located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country. It protects and highlights the Waterpocket Fold, a 100 mile long S-shaped fold in the earth's crust that is 65 million years old. In addition to the Waterpocket Fold it is filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and orchards. Orchards? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0fee9fbc-baeb-4050-8cb2-62f5c05263c8/Capital+Reef-5786.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Waterpocket Fold The Capitol Reef area wasn't mapped by United States explorers until 1872, although people have lived in this region for thousands of years. Around 1880 the Latter Day Saints moved into the high plateau lands west of Capitol Reef and established communities based on short-season farming and grazing. The key to life in this area was the Fremont River and its year-round supply of water. It provided irrigation needed by the farmers for their crops. By around 1900 the area had been named Fruita due to the abundant orchards. Those orchards still exist today, maintained by the Park. If you visit the Park make sure you buy an individual fruit pie from the Gifford Homestead located on Scenic Drive. They are delicious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4d71711a-54ed-434a-be80-9de0b2894a97/Capital+Reef-5843.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Barn in the Fruita area with an orchard behind it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/95fb97b2-f747-4d5c-8b5f-3a9538b0db12/Capital+Reef-5774.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Sewing Machine Rock or Clamshell Rock, depending on your viewing angle The paved scenic drive through the park, appropriately named Scenic Drive (there are two unpaved scenic drives, more on them later), has great views of the Waterpocket Fold and amazing Mother Nature rock art. It is a an 8 mile one way drive, so it can easily be finished in half a day. Why so long? You'll want to stop and enjoy the scenery or complete a short hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d807c1c1-465f-4a1c-ab15-fdd4f9b7584d/Capital+Reef-5772.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Sewing Machine Rock from the other angle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fa08175c-4f22-49b3-b73f-343df78dc7cf/Capital+Reef-5796.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Interesting random rock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0db10336-0550-4b46-82bf-785c3a541d99/Capital+Reef-5793.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out We just liked this composition https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/362140fb-5612-40e3-92ee-56dca3f4e3e8/Capital+Reef-5870.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Temple of the Sun (large monolith) and Temple of the Moon (smaller monolith to its left) The Cathedral Valley District of Capitol Reef National Park is a remote, rugged region. It is famous for its many towering monoliths, painted desert landscapes, and how difficult it can be to get there and enjoy them. The Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon are the Cathedral District's most famous sights and alone are worth the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0c6c94be-a5c2-4f67-a11b-f7221e74189c/Capital+Reef-5849.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out The rental Jeep with the painted desert landscape in the background. The Park Service recommends a vehicle with high ground clearance for this second scenic drive, which is almost 60 miles long. After discussing the road conditions with our campground, Joe elected to rent a Jeep for the trip. He did this for two reasons: our dually at 22 feet long would not be able to negotiate all of the switch backs and would likely get stuck teeter tottering when entering or exiting the river due to recent flood damage. The entire trip took 7 hours and he saw three other vehicles the entire day. So if you go, take plenty of water, food and some blankets in case you get stuck and need to spend the night in the desert. There is no walking out to get help, and while we were staying in the area we needed to use AC during the day and heat during the night. The road was very rough with the occasional large rock to climb, deep sand to plough through, and washed out sections due to recent flooding. All that being said it was a ton of fun to drive in a Jeep! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/681b2533-fd7f-4b1e-96cd-30cf7c4a3e55/Capital+Reef-5922.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Wall of Jericho, so named because it is falling down just like the original https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a2b89104-7abe-4b27-85a2-8e31b1082693/Capital+Reef-5915.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out One of many similarly shaped monoliths in Cathedral Valley District that inspired the name Charles Kelly, the first caretaker and superintendent of Capitol Reef, named the area Cathedral Valley because the eroded sandstone shapes reminded early explorers of ornate, Gothic cathedrals, with fluted walls, alcoves, and pinnacles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/795e507f-e3c1-4b32-82dd-2714ba6d7960/Capital+Reef-5894.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out A chocolate layer cake of geologic history https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/42b0a587-db45-42e2-8669-4d3f2e7c99c5/Capital+Reef-5962.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Painted Desert Cathedral Valley District https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e0a5960d-dada-46de-9b9a-eecc2e2f60c6/Capital+Reef-.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out The Capitol Dome - one half of the how Capitol Reef got its name. Capitol Reef National Park has a two part name. Part one, Capitol, is about the number of domes in the park that look like US capitols. The second part, Reef, is a nod to mariners. A reef is something that cannot be sailed over and must be sailed around. The mountains, cliffs, and valleys of this region were seen as reefs by the Europeans who first saw them. An obstacle that you must go around vs go through. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/64995988-ddb9-4d5b-aaa2-b03050aa0c6c/Capital+Reef-5808.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Hickman Bridge, at 133 feet long, is the longest natural bridge in the park. It is at the end of a 2 mile hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4492b1d0-3349-44d0-abb4-3d9fdbeeab38/Capital+Reef-5811.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out A small natural bridge, about 4 feet high and 10 feet long, found along the hike to Hickman Natural Bridge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d1c519bb-1f86-485a-8c63-7bab7f3e3537/Capital+Reef-5767.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out The Castle, which overlooks the beginning of the Scenic Drive https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bc4f3200-cacd-4fb3-aa0f-fa3c7e44792f/Capital+Reef-5787.jpg Blog - Capitol Reef National Park - Make it stand out Another view of the Waterpocket Fold Capitol Reef National Park, at nearly 7000 feet in elevation, was the highest place we stayed in 2020. It is a beautiful area with so many outdoor recreation options that we would like to return and do some more exploring. One thing left undone is the third scenic drive, the Capitol Reef section of the Burr trail, which includes the original switchback section and some great longer views of the the Waterpocket Fold and many hikes throughout the park. We also found this area to have more food options than the areas around the Utah National Monuments. So if you decide to visit the other four National Parks of Utah's Mighty Five don't forget Capitol Reef; it is well worth the trip! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/scenic-byway-12-the-hogsback monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b3b02186-5ef8-4891-92a6-ac085be412ba/Scenic+Byway+12-5387.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out One of two tunnels on Scenic Byway 12 in Red Canyon located between Panguitch and Bryce Canyon. Great stopping place to enjoy the ochre red spires and rock formations. We have only driven through it, but it is a beautiful place. Someday we'll stop, but heck Bryce Canyon is only a few miles further. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/49448f8d-dcbe-4779-a802-9555f3cea884/Scenic+Byway+12-5305.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Bryce Canyon Fairyland Loop Trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8100e786-8630-4061-96fc-52a283fc4503/Kodachrome+SP-5571.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out The colors are amazing in Kodachrome State Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/51646e19-8dbd-4505-9488-66dd784a9e59/Scenic+Byway+12-5622.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out The road follows the badlands up to 7700 ft. It is both steep and twisty. Great fun with a 41 foot 17,000 pound camper attached. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f98cc41a-d095-441e-9175-b182f6d2c98a/Scenic+Byway+12-5620.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Random uplift along Hwy 12 to keep things interesting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4b40b1a7-5773-408f-9e40-3c5851f40f39/Scenic+Byway+12-5619.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Looking across a small part of the Kaiparowits Plateau, one of the best places on earth to find dinosaur fossils https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c430b8c3-7324-464e-9a25-8965ea50b346/Scenic+Byway+12-5473.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dad178c7-0406-470c-b887-ca580b45e9d8/Scenic+Byway+12-5711.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Hell's Backbone Bridge Hell's Backbone Road is gravel, graded occasionally, and suitable for family cars during dry weather. It runs from juniper desert up into the lush pine and aspen forest on Boulder Mountain. Like Utah Hwy 12 it was built by CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) workers during the Great Depression era. About mid-way along the route, the road crosses the Hell's Backbone Bridge. In that area it follows contours just above the Box/Death Hollow Wilderness Area and provides outstanding views down into rugged canyons. Several trailheads allow hikers and backpackers to access various parts of the wilderness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fa1f6649-13e7-4327-83bf-4a51c9b7f7eb/Scenic+Byway+12-5706.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Box/Death Hollow Wilderness area https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1ae24c15-5c7b-452a-801a-0c950b3d63d2/Scenic+Byway+12-5717.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out This is what happens if you do not respect the roads in this area! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9a10b278-9c19-49ac-b617-57634fc14a52/Escalante-5633.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Devils Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9e734c15-5af1-4bac-84a1-c72438f47a41/Scenic+Byway+12-5689.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out A particularly scenic overlook of HWY 12. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/21d913e4-3d46-44e3-8b03-77d4b14be08e/Scenic+Byway+12-5103.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out The Lower Calf Creek Falls hike is found along Hwy 12. Joe was reminded that all of the rocks in the valley came from the valley walls when an avalanche occurred while he was at the falls. He heard a really deep roar that lasted a few seconds. There was no associated earthquake; it just wasn't that big. More than an hour after the avalanche the dust from it still hung in the air. Fortunately, nobody was injured or killed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2dc54820-6c95-40b2-9f06-630a6956b5dd/Scenic+Byway+12-5139.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out The fresh avalanche blocking the trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/75f6176f-2421-4a5c-bcf9-bcf9ce1bb4b2/Scenic+Byway+12-5064.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Lots of views like this are along the trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/da0e0914-7ed2-4bfd-b3e1-a2e98d0e2cee/Scenic+Byway+12-5702.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out A small portion of the Hogsback. There are almost no guardrails so you have to watch the road or die when you drive off a cliff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a5e525d8-a26b-46e0-9e50-919737cff072/Scenic+Byway+12-5289.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Typical view along the Hogsback https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f26101f5-7ef2-4775-b355-14b65e80b569/Scenic+Byway+12-.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Neowise Comet is the upper arrow and the lower arrow is an airplane. Joe took this photo from the highest point along the Hogsback. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cde57a38-b68e-4767-9dda-b8f37819658a/Scenic+Byway+12-5233.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Coombs site ruin The Coombs Site is unique in comparison to many other Ancestral Puebloan sites in the southwest. It is located near what is considered to be the border of the Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont cultures. The Fremont were a prehistoric group that occupied most of Utah during the same period as the Ancestral Puebloans. The result is a blending of traits or a prehistoric “melting pot” that is reflected in the artifacts recovered from this site, as well as in the architecture. In addition, elements from other branches of the Ancestral Puebloans have been identified here, suggesting the presence of an extensive trade network. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a5152a0a-11fd-4ac7-88d8-f52903e1669f/Scenic+Byway+12-5234.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Coombs site pit house The Ancestral Puebloans are known for their extraordinary building techniques. From pit houses to multi-storied cliff dwellings, these structures remain as a tribute to their outstanding architectural abilities. The Ancestral Puebloans were also highly skilled potters. Beautifully decorated pots, bowls, ladles, mugs, and other elaborate ceramic objects have been found in sites throughout the region. The museum associated with the state park includes a replica building, many pots, bowls, arrowheads, spears, and clothing. It is a great way to learn about this ancient culture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/644cf055-9205-4815-b7fd-1aa5eef59b93/Scenic+Byway+12-5248.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Singing Canyon Early along the drive is Singing Canyon. It is a short walk from the road to a very short but deep slot canyon with a unique echo. It is a fun stop playing with various sounds and the echoes they create. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/49f08ee1-dbb4-43a9-9faa-2630473f5d0c/Scenic+Byway+12--2.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out View outside Singing Canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b6441ce7-01f4-41f9-b2ac-95b87f8134c7/Scenic+Byway+12-5278.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Roadside view, Burr Trail There are many interesting rock formations along the road. Take it slowly and enjoy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/65a4dc67-fd59-4778-80cd-efbecd34ceda/Scenic+Byway+12-5280.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Overlook on Bowington Bench looking toward Capital Reef National Park We stopped driving at the overlook above, maybe 20 miles along the road. There is much more road to explore and maybe some other day we will. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3cc4ae79-b556-44a4-8cc7-9c4b6e5d0899/Scenic+Byway+12-5288.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Boulder Creek Canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/05b4c298-6779-4dcb-8235-64e5dd54ccb9/Scenic+Byway+12-5870.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Temple of the Moon and Temple of the Sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4d2ace6a-b580-495b-b95a-0ce67fd9e991/Capital+Reef-5774.jpg Blog - Scenic Byway 12 - The Hogsback - Make it stand out Sewing Machine Rock. It really does look like a sewing machine from farther away. Scenic Hwy 12 provides access to the most remote area of the lower 48. It is the last area mapped and still has minimal paved roads. It is somewhat unique in how much of the beauty can be seen from a car. If you choose to go, enjoy. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-hole-in-the-rock-road monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5bea829f-0b47-441f-809e-1362f188a951/Escalante-.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out We didn't take this photo, nor were we willing to drive all of the way to the end of the road to take it. Kudos to girlonahike.com for taking this photo. If we had a Jeep we would have driven to the Hole in the Rock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/200cf76d-4bf1-4f8c-9d12-c1e1c5444d8a/Escalante-5633.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Small arch in Devils Garden. Twelve miles down the road. We believe it looks like a woodpecker talking to an iguana. So, why bother to drive down Hole in the Rock Road given how big a hassle it is? Along the way you will find some of the most amazing geologic sites in the world. Joe visited several of them and left several others on his bucket list, primarily due to the heat. No 10 mile hikes when the temperatures are above 90. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1abdcf25-9fc7-4993-af11-2c92e9b3c288/Escalante-5655.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Erosion creates really cool art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/46c3a8fa-9138-42c0-b83f-36c2ac75e62a/Escalante--2.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Rain clouds in the distance. Joe thought this photo would look best in black and white. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7e1c56b5-7c90-4f74-ac33-2a1ccd8ff736/Escalante-5674.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Random hoodoos were everywhere https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8d52829f-d091-4272-9e98-6f571ecbb7bd/Escalante-5659.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out A bit of a "moonscape" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c316ffa5-d3aa-4fd2-b11e-13d9da774715/Escalante-5642.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out This guy puts the devil in Devils Garden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f1c876a0-52ea-42c4-b286-70e1b21e5e9f/Escalante-5207.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Cedar Wash Arch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/54af75ad-4a9b-4ea1-bb59-48681df0c4de/Escalante-5200.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out (Rock) Teepees along the way It is about 2 miles to the start of the canyon making this about a 10 mile hike to see the whole thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a3bb5cb3-c803-4256-bc08-c3ed4e995133/Escalante-5196.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Entrance to the slot canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9c73f5bc-07ae-4599-8ee5-b9af9c16d5dc/Escalante-5184.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Amazing swirls in the canyon walls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6dc92b7d-cc5d-4c5f-8890-e6195e77d93d/Escalante-5182.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Getting closer to the real slot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f901d470-d836-49f6-a9c2-9d1222ab683e/Escalante-5167.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Joe turned around when this side canyon narrowed to less than a foot. In the distance it narrows to mere inches. Due to hot weather Joe didn't finish the hike and will want to return in cooler weather to see the entire canyon. The 400 foot deep section still needs to be seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3b00d2bd-3567-4dd1-b8e5-884c12e9201a/Escalante-5418.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out It was really hot when Joe started a 6 mile hike. Thanks to these guys who gave him a hand to climb the 15 foot entry into Peek-a-Boo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4224c06e-db00-441f-b958-e6e23373055c/Escalante-5421.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Arches in the slot canyon. This is an amazing hike that Joe would like to redo without a torn left meniscus and with temperatures in the 60's. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c726ceb3-c9be-45e7-b017-2f544d72b484/Escalante-5422.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out Whee let's slide down this thing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c2621564-fdae-47a8-9361-440a9c5dddb9/Escalante-5439.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Hole in the Rock Road - Make it stand out The temperatures were so high and the angles so steep and narrow Joe is happy he escaped! He did so by climbing out prior to the end and jumping over the slot canyon to hike the 3 miles back to the parking lot and a cold Mountain Dew in the truck. Still on the bucket list is Coyote Gulch, Golden Cathedral, and Cosmic Ashtray. We'll come back some spring or fall and see what else is down Hole in the Rock Road. It is most definitely worth the effort to explore Hole in the Rock Road. But maybe we'll bring a Jeep instead of the big truck. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/kodachrome-basin-state-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d78d72cf-aea3-4e21-bf83-44e3c265ab46/Kodachrome+SP-5571.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out The earth in Kodachrome State Park is highly saturated just like the film! Kodachrome State Park is known for its beautiful sedimentary pipes and multicolored sandstone layers that reveal 180 million years of our earth's history. The color and beauty found here prompted a National Geographic Society expedition to name the area Kodachrome, after the Kodak's popular color film. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7e4a098c-25f4-4449-b3e7-4ca91808e3a9/Kodachrome+SP-5591.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out Sedimentary Pipe Many monolithic stone spires, called sedimentary pipes, rise randomly from the earth in the park. These pipes are a stunning feature that as far as I can determine are not found anywhere else. There are several theories about how the sedimentary pipes came to be. One of the popular theories is that the pipes are the remnants of ancient springs. The springs became choked with sediment which cemented together and were harder, hence more resistant to erosion, than the surrounding rock. The softer rock wore away over millions of years, leaving the sedimentary pipes for us to enjoy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0effe53a-9e05-42fc-a912-c04042eb4b04/Kodachrome+SP-5547.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out Great example of a sedimentary pipe with the softer rock eroding around it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/15b58ebc-527a-4ef1-9559-3bc930cedbcf/Kodachrome+SP-5569.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out Indian Paintbrush https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/73b03c15-6c9a-4563-a921-6e99c9cde0e9/Kodachrome+SP-5615.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out Sedimentary Pipe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5a145926-a438-42e9-b84a-360b5e802875/Kodachrome+SP-5616.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out Fins and pipes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/18f0375e-a008-4ddf-bf50-efdb78dd3734/Kodachrome+SP-5595.jpg Blog - Kodachrome Basin State Park - Make it stand out View of the park from Panorama Point If you get to Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome State Park is a short 20 mile drive for a day trip. It is well worth it to drive through the park and do one of the hikes. Kodachrome and Bryce are not on the beaten path, but there is food and fuel available both at Bryce Canyon and in Canonville, which is not too far from Kodachrome State Park. Just don't count on anything except toilets in the park. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/bryce-canyon-national-park-and-cedar-breaks-national-monument monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/85cc3f5b-a4b2-4e6e-bdb1-e74d8d0c23c1/Bryce+Canyon-4401.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out One of the amphitheaters found in Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon sits atop the Grand Staircase at an elevation of between 8000 and 9000 feet. These high elevations are the key to how the amazing hoodoos developed and continue to change. The freeze/thaw cycle is the secret sauce for the hoodoos and the other amazing sights here. At Bryce Canyon the temperature crosses the freeze point about half of the days each year. We can vouch for this as when we stayed there in August 2017 the temperature was in the mid to upper 30's each morning and 80's by mid-afternoon. Every time the temperature falls below 32 degrees F a little water freezes in the cracks in the rocks and causes the crack to widen just a little. Then when it thaws the cycle can repeat. Over time this frost wedging creates the landscape by regularly chipping off small bits of rock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c6aa339c-06b3-4ba2-8f9c-2c8a1a29424f/Bryce+Canyon-5312.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out Tower Bridge on the Fairyland Loop Trail This year on our truck tour of the Grand Staircase we stopped by Bryce Canyon for dinner and a quick look from the rim. Joe returned later to complete the Fairyland Loop hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/caa3eb2f-b90d-4d59-b3ee-2c5259defb48/Bryce+Canyon-5361.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out Fairyland Hoodoos The Fairyland Loop is about 8 miles long and about 1600 feet in elevation gain. Unfortunately, you lose most of your elevation at the beginning of the hike and need to get it all back towards the end. However, it is a beautiful hike and due to its length not very crowded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a29e308f-9857-401c-b6f4-b84668e31d65/Bryced+Canyon-5331.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out More hoodoos forming https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/27b19078-7db4-439f-a6a3-060130f103e3/Bryce+Canyon-5306.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out Typical view along the trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/239cba56-8030-4d9c-a490-cf2519fa8183/Bryce+Canyon-5350.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out Almost back to the top at this point. Once you get back to the top you need to hike along the rim of the amphitheater two miles back to the parking lot where you started. Bryce Canyon is a Dark Sky Park and is a wonderful place to get out at night and admire the stars. If you love beautiful and unique scenery find the time to visit Bryce Canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/309bf8cb-a583-49fb-8fb5-14727bc74116/Bryce+Canyon-5391.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out Cedar Breaks high elevation pond Cedar Breaks National Monument is located to the west of Bryce Canyon. It is pretty similar to, but much smaller and less spectacular than, its more famous cousin. While we were staying in Escalante, UT, it was 120 miles one way to the nearest decent grocery store. One of the 3 roughly equal (by time) ways to get to a grocery store took us through Cedar Breaks National Monument, so there we went. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e7dd6357-8ba4-45da-bb08-3b6dbab56c37/Bryce+Canyon-5396.jpg Blog - Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument - Make it stand out Cedar Breaks amphitheater Cedar Breaks, at 10,450 feet, is a bit higher in elevation than Bryce Canyon and also has less air to breathe if you do one of the hikes. Joe has found that above about 9000 feet he needs many more breaks to get enough oxygen. If you need to choose between the two it is a very easy choice. Go to Bryce Canyon - it is more beautiful and has better facilities. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/north-rim-of-the-grand-canyon monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d69613a8-a5a3-415e-ae27-19b0c0663e46/Kanab-5012.jpg Blog - North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Make it stand out Angels Window at Cape Royal with the Colorado River framed by the arch. The North Rim has fewer amenities than the South Rim and is more difficult to reach. Also, due to heavy winter snow it is only open from May 15 to October 15. We visited during the Covid-19 pandemic and everything except the camp store was closed so we aren't going to comment on the amenities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c62b8e1d-414f-4b05-93f9-c4695facf4a9/Kanab-4991.jpg Blog - North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Make it stand out View from Bright Angel Point We visited the south rim in both 2017 and 2019 and decided we would like to also see the north rim. Both sides of the park feature expansive canyon views. However, we think you get closer views of the main canyon from the south rim. From the north rim you mostly see side canyons with a view of the main canyon in the distance. There are more and larger side canyons on the north rim due to the increased precipitation that has fallen over the eons, which has resulted in greater erosion. The north rim, at an elevation of 8000 ft, is 1000 ft higher than the south rim, which is why it gets more precipitation. Also, the water on both sides flows south (into the canyon from the north, away from the canyon on the south). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/26089a87-6148-49ec-85f8-39cf407aeee7/Kanab-5003.jpg Blog - North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Make it stand out View from an overlook on the way to Cape Royal On the North Rim there are three main places to access the canyon and we visited two of them. The Bright Angel Point overlook is located right behind the visitor center and is the most visited spot on the North Rim. Cape Royal is accessed via a side road off US 63, the road that leads to the North Rim. It is a 25 mile drive down a winding road with plenty of overlooks to enjoy on the way to Cape Royal. Toroweap, the overlook we did not visit, is 61 miles and 3-4 hours (one way) down a dirt/rock/washboarded road labeled high clearance 4WD only. Based on info we got from the Kanab Tourism Office, this road is best driven in an ATV or Jeep. Longer and wider vehicles do not do well. However, Toroweap is arguably the most impressive overlook with 3000 ft sheer vertical drops to the Colorado River. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/023a4e80-0d4b-4388-9028-f433888e699b/Kanab-5032.jpg Blog - North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Make it stand out View from Cape Royal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ed5629b2-a345-4b5e-ba97-060b63056645/Kanab-5050.jpg Blog - North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Make it stand out Indian Paintbrush - one of our favorite wildflowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e88b7ce5-9f9d-49e6-8196-a8c9a89ef9b3/Kanab-5053.jpg Blog - North Rim of the Grand Canyon - Make it stand out One of the meadows along the road into the park. If you are lucky the bison will be grazing on the meadow when you visit. If you visit during the summer the south rim and the canyon itself can be brutally hot. During both our 2017 (August) and our 2020 (June) visits a person lost their life while hiking into the canyon. In 2017 a person ran out of water and died when they got lost going for more. In 2020 the temperature was above 110 degrees and led to heat stroke and death of that person. The park staff do a great job of posting warnings and cautions on the Grand Canyon website. Make sure you check there and pay attention to them. They know their stuff. If you only visit one national park the Grand Canyon would be a good choice. It is one of two of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World that can be seen from the US. The other is the Aurora Borealis and finding it can be a bit difficult, so the Grand Canyon is the one Natural Wonder that definitely can be seen without leaving the US. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/kanab-area monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/723e36fa-27d3-4fd4-b34e-4576929ab863/Kanab--7.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Kanab is a small town in southern Utah known for ranching and outdoor recreation. It also has a substantial history with the film industry, often called "Little Hollywood". Movie and TV show production had been a big industry up until about 2000. Gunsmoke, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Lone Ranger, Planet of the Apes, and the Flintstones are among the dozens of shows or films shot in the area. Not many of the film industry sets remain and we did not try and visit those that do as we had a difficult time finding out where they are. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8bc12d6e-b35b-405d-9ca9-074400350143/Kanab-3468.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out The Paria Badlands were a big part of TV and movie production in the area Now on to outdoor recreation. Just north of town is a spectacular slot canyon, Red Canyon AKA Peek-a-Boo. The trailhead parking is right off US 89. From there it is a tough 4 miles on narrow, winding, deep sand jeep trails to the canyon. Our dually is both too wide and too heavy in the front end to get us there without damaging the truck and/or getting stuck and spending up to $2000 to get pulled out. We hired a guide who owns a Jeep to get us there and it was a bit like an amusement park ride. Lots of bumps and tight turns. The canyon itself is about 3/4 of a mile long and is best seen between 10 am and 2 pm. In order for the beauty of the sandstone walls to come out you need to be there when sunlight reaches into the canyon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4c109873-1e35-4d38-96e6-9cf7048c80d7/Kanab-3376.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Red Canyon AKA Peek-a-Boo. Note the stump stuck about 15 ft above the floor. It was deposited in a 2019 flood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b2ba9479-cb45-4215-bba8-a9613ea4b01f/Kanab-3376.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Red Canyon AKA Peek-a-boo in late morning light https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2791bbf2-766b-4a79-b6e7-02632fbaeac7/Kanab--8.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Red Canyon AKA Peek-a-Boo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/df36ed23-0d27-45b0-a2f0-797f7fab94c4/Kanab--9.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Looking up from Peek-a-Boo. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is unique due to the coral pink color of the sand and the fact that the dunes exist. The sand comes from Navajo Sandstone located south of the park. The prevailing winds that do the eroding come from the south. A notch between Moquith and Moccasin Mountains that funnels the wind creates the velocity needed to transport the sand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/69d35ba8-f3b3-4cff-988c-a3c32aaf7f31/Kanab-4964.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out First sand dune that feeds the others. If you look carefully you can see the rock ledge near the top of the dune that caused it to form in this location. Once the sand is airborne an obstacle is needed to deflect the wind, causing the sand to fall to earth around the obstacle. A rock ledge created the first dune. Subsequent dunes are formed due to the wind deflection around the first dune, causing more sand to drop out of the air flow. Once dunes form, a process called saltation moves the sand along the dunes. Saltation is when the wind bounces appropriately-sized grains of sand along the dune. As the grains bounce they hit other grains of sand, keeping the process moving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4859f2e2-5039-44c7-8858-69ef10591eef/Kanab-4963.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Largest sand dune. Note people climbing it for scale Just north of Kanab right on US 89 is Moqui Cave. Water sculpted this cave and it is amazingly symmetrical. Unfortunately, it is easily accessible from the highway resulting in lots of graffiti having been carved into the walls. In spite of all of this the cave is still stunning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fea757a3-d3e9-435e-b8ce-83be53dd26c8/Kanab-4938.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Moqui Cave While close to the highway, the climb to the cave is a short, but very steep hike up slick rock. The day Joe went the winds increased while he was in the cave making the descent a bit dicey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/adebcf1f-a84f-4a73-9bb9-2d2eaf0f262a/Kanab-4943.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Moqui Cave A few hundred yards off the road to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Sand Arch seemed to have been plopped down in the middle of the forest for no particular reason. It is a neat arch and takes very little time to visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1ca744d2-1cb3-469d-8b42-4e4752711190/Kanab-4195.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Sand Arch Early in June a fire started on the Kaibab Plateau. For the first few days the Mangum Fire grew to about 2,000 acres. Then we suffered through about 10 days of high, dry winds and the fire exploded to about 72,000 acres. This fire closed US 89A which is the only paved access to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It also closed House Rock Valley Road south of the Utah/Arizona border, resulting in access to about two thirds of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument being closed to visitors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/17c48a07-c9da-4e98-8edb-d813d0a8c74d/Kanab-5056.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out The fire was so hot all of the understory burned to ash https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/abccaa5b-8641-477d-8f76-aa35b12896cd/Kanab-5054.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Red fire retardant slurry was dumped on this area by helicopter About 700 Hot Shot Fire Fighters from all over the US converged to fight the fire. It took almost three weeks, but they got it under control in time for us to visit the North Rim on June 30, the first day it was open following the fire and our last day in Kanab. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/207821af-35b5-4bf4-b775-4182711fa3e1/Kanab-5061.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out Fire damage to some rock The Kanab area is a great place to stay if you want to explore Vermilion Cliffs and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments. If the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is your destination, Jacob Lake is a lot closer. Kanab is rural, but you can find all of the necessities right in town. During our stay in Kanab the state of Utah was just re-opening during the Covid-19 pandemic. Given that, we didn't really explore the town to any great degree, opting instead to continue our self-isolation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e2762ca6-1763-4005-a6b1-ac3598209c50/Kanab-5057.jpg Blog - Kanab Area - Make it stand out All five steps of the Grand Staircase can be found in this photo taken from US 89A, if you look closely enough. One other note: Page, AZ is also a great place to stay to see Grand Staircase Escalante and Vermillion Cliffs. However, their RV Parks cannot handle a 42-ft RV so it was not an option for us. Additionally, Page is part of the Navajo nation and due to the Covid-19 pandemic all businesses were and (as of early July) still are shut down in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/vermilion-cliffs-coyote-buttes-north-the-wave monthly 0.5 2026-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/13f574ae-2730-460c-b7fe-60fc01b77cf8/Kanab-4568.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out The Wave as seen when you first arrive Coyote Buttes North, AKA The Wave, is the most sought after permit in the US National Park System / Bureau of Land Management. Each year about 200,000 people apply for the 7300 permits available. That works out to 20 people getting to experience 'The Wave each day. There are two ways to get a permit. The online lottery awards 10 per day about 3 months in advance, and the in-person lottery awards the other 10 permits per day the day before they can be used. On his eighth try Joe got a permit at the in-person lottery. He made the short trip (every place is a short trip in Kanab; conversely, every place is a long trip once you leave Kanab) to apply for the lottery every day we didn't have something else going on at 9 am when the lottery occurs. Each day between 30 and 50 groups representing more than 100 people participated in the lottery. Your odds aren't all that great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e2d306d4-5361-46d2-b98a-6dc87e20721c/Kanab-4559.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Coyote Buttes North seen from about a mile away. Unfortunately for Joe, he won his Wave permit for the hottest day of 2020 so far. The hike to Coyote Buttes North is a hard hike, especially in the heat. It is about a third deep sand, two thirds slanted slick rock, and includes 1100 feet of elevation gain in its 3.2 mile one-way route. The sand is hard hiking and the slick rock can reach temps of over 120 degrees in the summer, so you get heated from above and below! So despite starting the hike almost an hour before sunrise Joe got about 2 hours into North Coyote Buttes, which needed to include rest and lunch, before he had to start back to avoid the worst of the heat. Even arriving back at the truck by 12:30 pm it was 102 degrees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cd8bb500-f5d5-471c-81a0-e63866092a82/Kanab-4577.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Close-up of the striations So how do you prepare for a 7-8 mile hike in these temperatures? First, determine a return time and stick to it. The other key is to stay hydrated and not lose all of your electrolytes. For this trip Joe ate a Cliff Bar (supposed to replace electrolytes), ham, turkey, and cheese sandwich, and some salty trail mix. He also drank nearly 5 liters of water and 40 ounces of Gatorade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9f16117b-8317-4204-b3d4-ea965ad3a249/Kanab--6.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Joe with Marine, Lea, and Margot It is best to not hike in extremely hot (or cold) weather alone. Joe was fortunate to arrive at the trailhead at the same time as three young French women who have been working in the US for the past few years. We joined forces and did the hike together. They were on a vacation together before Marine returned to France. It was a lot of fun to hike with them. After The Wave they were off to a ranch in St George, UT then to Nevada. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/50ad01a4-59cb-4327-9d30-43a6c430ba66/Kanab-4569.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Not The Wave, but a close by Teepee The Wave was made famous by Microsoft during the Windows 7 era when they released a screen saver composed of images from North Coyote Buttes. It was a hit, and due to its new popularity limits had to be put on visitation in order to protect the resource. Per the BLM trespassing on The Wave (they WILL check your permit) can cost you as much as $10,000. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/020485b3-763f-46b0-b1a0-681938158720/Kanab-4598.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out This rock looks more like wood grain The beautiful patterns found in The Wave are eroded rock layers formed by windblown sand millions of years ago. As Jurassic wind patterns changed, different sand dunes blew across the southwest desert, cementing into the striations that we now admire. The water drainage that carved the two main chutes dried up a long time ago, so now wind is the Wave’s primary erosion force. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9a5a38f5-eda8-48c4-889d-c8040ecb275f/Kanab-4606.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out The Bone Yard The Bone Yard is another feature at Coyote Buttes North. The stripes are wider and weirdly eroded rocks sit randomly on the stripes. It is different from anything else we've seen, which seems to happen a lot in Vermilion Cliffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c1357b99-30cc-4605-884d-66c5d750811b/Kanab-4610.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Weird rock combinations abound https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/219e5bee-f211-4ac0-80a0-fe9c1a08f50e/Kanab-4615.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Wind art https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ddae2ec3-88c4-4bcc-92f7-50aff7e90d85/Kanab-4625.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Sunlight arrives in one of The Wave's side canyons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4e9a4028-3188-40d8-b3b2-e1f6747eb692/Kanab-4643.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out Classic view https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7ab47374-a3ac-4aea-a989-afa67896ae54/Kanab-4664.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs Coyote Buttes North - The Wave - Make it stand out The Wave Guardian The Wave was a great experience for Joe. If we are ever in the area again he would like to get a redo in cooler weather so he can stay longer and see some of the other formations. If you want to see The Wave, December and January are the months your odds are best, both for the online and in-person lotteries. One other note, the trailhead is 8 miles down an unmaintained gravel and clay road with fairly severe ruts and washboarding. Joe saw one small car lose its bumper when it fell into one of the ruts, so plan to drive something with more clearance than a Prius and go slow. Plenty of cars make it out and back just fine, just be cautious. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/vermilion-cliffs-national-monument-wire-pass-buckskin-gulch-and-edmaiers-secret monthly 0.5 2026-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5becab22-8587-4b4a-b760-42e628f8c597/Kanab-3656.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Upper Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon hiking is a lot of fun; however, you should never enter a slot canyon if it is raining anywhere in the watershed surrounding the canyon. This can be quite some distance. For Buckskin Gulch it must not be raining anywhere from Bryce Canyon National Park 80 miles away to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Each year a few people who don't follow this simple rule die in slot canyon floods where the water will run fast and deep, frequently 20-30 feet deep. This year two sisters (age 3 and 7) have already died when caught inside a slot canyon during a thunderstorm and swept downstream. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dd96bd1b-b3c1-4f43-805c-95a4e793536a/Kanab-3871.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Entrance to Wire Pass at sunrise If you decide to hike a slot canyon, do a little research to make sure you pick wisely and are up to the hike you choose. They can be very easy to extremely difficult and technical with equipment needs such as ropes long enough for the climbs you will do, a harness, anchors, rappel device with locking carabiner, wet suits, etc. If you wish to complete a difficult canyon, hire a guide who will make sure you have the proper equipment and will keep you safe. Joe only does non-technical canyons with some scrambling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f85b76e1-1574-4735-8c79-89b42871a04d/Kanab-4032.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Wire Pass Buckskin Gulch at 21 miles long is one of the longest slot canyons in the world. There are two non-technical entrances in the upper reaches of the canyon. Joe hiked to both of them. The first is to start at the Buckskin Trailhead and follow Buckskin Wash for about 3 miles until it transitions into Buckskin Gulch, then either exit at Wire Pass about 3 miles from the start of the gulch or turn around when you are about half tired. Joe is a turn around when half tired kind of person. Many of these hikes and canyons look very different on the return trip, rewarding a person with new sights and always with different light. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7d268b20-e2ce-4b49-a0ed-b142f0a6332b/Kanab-4163.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Confluence of Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass. Note the people for scale. Wire Pass is the narrow slot in the rock toward the right side of the photo. The other way into Buckskin Gulch is to start your hike at Wire Pass Trailhead and hike about a mile and a half to Wire Pass and continue through the short slot canyon to Buckskin Gulch. In the middle of the first section of Wire Pass there is a large choke stone that results in a 10 foot obstacle you need to either climb or walk around. There is a log leaning against the choke stone that can be climbed, but it works best if you have somebody to tell you where to put your feet on the way down. Otherwise, you can do as Joe did and climb a small hill marked by cairns to just skip that 100 yard section of Wire Pass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4ccda0a5-77c7-45ba-bc77-4b7f17fb78a3/Kanab-4073.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Lower Buckskin Gulch Wire Pass and Buckskin is a beautiful hike with amazing shapes to explore and colors to see. The light is generally best from 10 am to 2 pm as it is able to penetrate the canyon and bring out the colors in the walls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/37e15976-845e-495a-87ca-c989f02f2a48/Kanab-4048.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out A wide spot in Buckskin Gulch. In the about five miles of Buckskin Canyon Joe visited it ranged from about 5 feet deep to more than a 100 feet deep. The width at the floor ranged from about four feet wide to about 100 feet wide. It was mostly less than 10 feet wide. Slot canyons are a great place to hike on hot summer days as they will be significantly cooler than the sunbaked trails leading to and from them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5e7f1fbf-6413-4874-ae22-c4a362aea66c/Kanab-4201.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Fins - the rock is between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch thick Edmaier’s Secret and West Clark Bench are really one hike. Edmaiers Secret is the lower part of the hike and West Clark Bench is the upper, more strenuous part of the hike. Both have lots of amazing natural rock art. It seems to us that Vermilion cliffs is mostly about some of the best weird and amazing rock shapes we have seen in our travels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b5c57157-2ebb-4168-8fe6-20d5604f1e78/Kanab-4202.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out A Teepee with a Hoodoo on top https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d15af6fa-b6e5-43b3-8428-18989bc2de96/Kanab-3629.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out View from West Clark Bench https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3cbc2505-de8b-44ab-9385-6ceae0c5f393/Kanab-4209.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out More Fins This hike takes about 6-8 hours and includes 2 miles of mostly boring hiking down the Buckskin Wash to reach Edmaiers Secret, and of course 2 miles back to the truck. After you leave the wash the hike has no trail to follow and is mostly walking on slick rock (with a little deep sand to keep things challenging), nearly all of which is slanted. The walking is a bit like cutting grass in West Virginia on a mountainside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/86d67668-0bb9-49ff-8bd7-a7855480d8c6/Kanab-3594.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Brain Rock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5eddc756-da5f-4474-9c11-072cded660e8/Kanab-4227.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out The Bedlam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c75b40e9-713e-48f7-8cbd-f2fab551ec4d/Kanab-4275.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out S Curve https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c0b8f86a-ba6d-4ca0-8737-df53df0695b2/Kanab-4281.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Little Arch and Fins - West Clark Bench https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0ac811b5-2a13-48a9-93df-523f2a7a5d9a/Kanab-4267.jpg Blog - Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch, and Edmaiers Secret - Make it stand out Arch on top of West Clark Bench It is best to have a hiking GPS on which to load the trail and waypoints looked up online so you can find the great sights once you're out. It is very easy to walk 25 feet from something and never see it. It is also difficult to find a safe way up and down from West Clark Bench around the cliffs. The website https://www.thewave.info/index.html belongs to a professional photographer who has spent decades hiking and photographing this area. He kindly provides Garmin files that can be downloaded to a Garmin GPS. Joe used them extensively during his hikes to find many of the items he photographed in the Kanab area. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-kanab-utah monthly 0.5 2026-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/96ec5d05-1fe1-4df0-9dbd-6fd44e079122/Kanab-3079.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Toadstools Hoodoos at Sunrise For June and July we will be camping at two locations near Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument which is located in southern Utah and encompasses some of the wildest and most remote land in the lower 48. There are not many, if any, paved roads and some barely or not maintained roads for us to use while exploring it. The Monument is uncrowded, beautiful, and parts of it are at risk due to actions taken by the Trump administration to reduce its size by a little less than half. This reduction has been challenged in court and the case is glacially making its way through the court system. Unlike past administrations who would hold on challenged regulations and executive orders like this, the Trump administration moves forward with their plans as fast as possible. All of the places visited in this post were in the original monument and are not included in the Trump administration version of Grand Staircase. These areas are now open for mineral extraction. At this time the National Monument signs have not been removed, the porta potties are still maintained, and no mineral extraction has started, but a number of claims have been staked. Yes, in 2020 you can still stake a claim for mining rights on some federal land pretty much just like in the wild west from what I have been able to determine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c77469a4-850a-4d66-b87d-7232927999ae/Kanab-3183.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Same day the sun appears This part of the monument consists of a series of benches and cliffs that step progressively up in elevation from south to north. The bottom of the staircase is at the highest bench of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the top is in the Bryce Canyon National Park area. Each of the five “steps” has been eroded, revealing cliffs of distinctive color. Travelers can see the Grand Staircase from some of the viewpoints in Bryce Canyon and US 89A as it descends the Kaibab Plateau. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/61cddc00-b190-4335-8adc-44b54304bb24/Kanab-3225.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out A short fat Hoodoo! Toadstools is a short, easy hike with a big payoff. It is only a little over a mile to the area containing the hoodoos. A hoodoo is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of a badland or desert drainage. Hoodoos typically consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements. Below are several hoodoo photos from Toadstools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b4ccf4eb-492b-4151-8460-f6ddc224d220/Kanab-3230.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Toadstools Hoodoo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8c85ced8-0240-4ce5-a78c-94ab8f2b86f1/Kanab-3229.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out A prototypical tall thin Hoodoo at Toadstools About a mile west of Toadstools is the Paria (pronounced "pa-ree-ah") Contact Station which, like all BLM offices, is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there is a small campground and a short road to a trailhead allowing access to the Paria River Canyon also at this site that is open. While Joe did not venture into the canyon due to a sore knee coupled with not wanting to do a 16 mile hike, he did explore a rock formation named the Nautilus that can be accessed via a wash along this road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3a09cd98-eb9c-4c34-aff5-9951cc54fab9/Kanab-3245.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Another hoodoo found along the road to the Paria River Trailhead. Looks like a pawn in chess Water can create amazing sculptures. There are many examples near Kanab. Below is the Nautilus, a place where the water carved a beautiful curve through the rock. It is only a short drive down the dirt and sand road that starts at the Paria Contact Station and a 1 mile hike up a sandy wash. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/88ed039a-21c4-45aa-92f2-7c7f988cc8d3/Kanab-3257.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Bottom of the nautilus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8daf5aa3-c78e-485d-90de-bbf378de03b9/Kanab-3265.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out The middle of the nautilus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c299373b-b0ca-4fd6-8c92-d325faf7ca8d/Kanab-3268.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Top of the Nautilus White Rocks is a not very well known series of eroded valleys containing some great Hoodoos and vibrant colors. It is found at the end of a three mile, pretty good dirt road that is directly off US 89. So, other than the fact that it is many miles from the nearest camping, motel, fuel, or food it is readily accessible. Joe visited White Rocks twice and those are the first two times in two years that he was really alone on a hike. Nobody else was even parked at the trailhead both times. That is not a good thing for a mostly solo hiker, at least in Joe's opinion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/34edd581-88ed-4ef6-9f7a-f3f9d22b606a/Kanab-4532.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Twisted Hoodoo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/57cf7084-26d5-478f-9426-10b4f127bf86/Kanab-4534.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Dromedary Hoodoo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d4986546-0760-4ed4-b8bf-5a83a7961d44/Kanab-4478.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Colorful Canyon at dawn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/13c06eb2-c72c-45ae-b5e7-c28492d94e81/Kanab-4452.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Sunlight can make or break a photo. Early morning light hit the grass perfectly here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8b6b22da-5cff-4c4f-adc6-9c2b2eb71643/Kanab-4514.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Hoodoo with composite concrete-like stuff for the column https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5c991b68-734d-4d21-8fdf-4b919f14c3de/Kanab-4498.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out Pressure melded all of these different stones into on rock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d16bc9be-12bb-4c07-bb01-793e651c1dfb/Kanab-4487-2.jpg Blog - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument - Kanab, Utah - Make it stand out The Hooked Hoodoo There are other amazing places nearby that the Trump administration is trying to remove from Monument protections that we didn't visit. To be clear, mining or other destructive activities may never happen at or near any of these sites, but by removing Monument protections it is possible and this administration will do everything in its power to ensure resources are extracted wherever they exist. We do not support President Trump's actions and vision regarding Grand Staircase Escalante and Bears Ears, which we will visit in September. Also, despite what he says, not all of Utah supports his actions. There is a thriving tourism industry that has grown around the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and given stability and time will exist for Bears Ears. We do not see why America needs to put the this land at risk for coal mining given that the free market has already decided coal is a declining industry. If we need more coal, unemployed miners in West Virginia, Wyoming, Kentucky, or Pennsylvania could be put back to work. (The fact that they're unemployed shows we really don't need the coal.) This unique and remote place does not have the infrastructure to even support mining. There is only one two-lane highway and no railroad through the region. This is about as political as you will see me (Joe) get, but protecting our environment and special places is important to me, and I wanted to share some of the at-risk special places with you. Once they get destroyed we can't get them back. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/the-grand-staircase monthly 0.5 2026-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f5b1b619-b69e-4094-b92e-ee4552e8273e/Kanab-4300.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Chocolate Cliffs, first step of the Grand Staircase The monument consists of a series of “benches” and cliffs that step progressively up in elevation from south to north. The bottom of the staircase is the highest bench of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The top of the staircase is in the Bryce Canyon National Park area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/21b6f14d-1148-424a-89e3-9ee366dbac2a/Kanab--5.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Vermillion Cliffs, second step of the Grand Staircase Each of the five “steps” has been eroded, revealing cliffs of a distinctive color. Travelers can see the Grand Staircase from some of the viewpoints in Bryce Canyon, US 89A, and various other places in the area as it descends the Kaibab Plateau. Unfortunately, a huge forest fire has prevented us from photographing the entire staircase from US 89A. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ecd40671-a368-4baa-91a1-cff5a744f9c0/Kanab-4457.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out White Cliffs, third step of the Grand Staircase https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9a2b3cba-d28f-4cd1-965c-e5d6e02535a6/Kanab-4401.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Gray Cliffs, fourth step of the Grand Staircase We've been told the best way to see the Grand Staircase is to drive Cottonwood Canyon Rd, which starts 63 miles east of Kanab where we are staying. It goes 45 miles from US 89 near Church Wells, UT to Kodachrome State Park near Tropic, UT. Cottonwood Canyon is one of the better roads in the monument in that it is maintained and can be driven by most vehicles, except when wet it is impassable by any consumer vehicle. We drove our Chevy 4WD Dually, and other than the bouncing due to our stiff suspension we had no problems. We did see a Prius out there and it had made it most of the way. However, I wouldn't take my Corvette or pride and joy antique ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a4fa3e03-e835-4382-874c-7a34beee8a39/Kanab-4433.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Pink Cliffs, the fifth and top step of the Grand Staircase. This is also Bryce Canyon National Park. They are more orange than pink, but are still part of the pink cliffs. Our trip was 186 miles long and took us 10 hours and 30 minutes. The steps and cliffs, while distinct from a distance, are much less so when up close. So with a few exceptions we aren't real sure which step we were on when we stopped for something awesome or beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c2cdb19b-71ea-4c86-9cb1-78bfed8bed20/Kanab-4309.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Oyster shell fossils from the Cretaceous period . Our first stop was at mile 3.4 for a wash on the left side of the road. Here we found a fossilized oyster bed from the Cretaceous period when this whole area was under an ocean rather than about 6000 ft above it as it is today. The Cretaceous period lasted from 145.5 million years ago to 65.5 million years ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4bb17e22-17f5-4bab-94a6-08b6e873fab8/Kanab-4325.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Jane says this is Satan wrapped up in a cloak, looking left. See his pair of devil horns on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d951b8bf-e230-4b3e-b3d6-5b117af86504/Kanab-4341.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Another pretty roadside view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/646d7557-3ba4-4eeb-b674-e1d7f60fde06/Kanab-4350.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Cottonwood Narrows, a slot canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cd962eb3-1c71-40fa-9080-5f4e733b94fe/Kanab-4355.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out A castle formation, found on a short stretch of the road named 'The Squeeze' https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5412d80c-5131-4c63-9652-af6a0eb8c89c/Kanab-4367.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Striped rock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bc6c16bc-ec55-4d3f-9211-e01820d99c4a/Kanab-4358.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Interesting juxtaposition of pointed and round rocks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/96e4f535-3b02-4b84-aa40-a230fe289b93/Kanab-4385.jpg Blog - The Grand Staircase - Make it stand out Grosvenor Arch We had a great but tiring time on this circle tour of southern Utah and saw many amazing landscapes. The Grand Staircase really is grand and as far as staircases go, maybe a bit uneven on the rise and run. ;-) https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/vermillion-cliffs-national-monument-white-pocket monthly 0.5 2026-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7501c2c3-0bee-473f-86fe-bf41b8d25a99/Kanab--3.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out White Pocket Panorama The White Pocket is part of the Vermilion Cliffs which are located in the second "step" in the five-step Grand Staircase of the Colorado (river watershed) Plateau, in northern Arizona and southern Utah. The Vermillion Cliffs extend west from near Page, Arizona, for a long way, in both Arizona and Utah. The first step of the Grand Staircase is the top of the the Grand Canyon, known as the Chocolate Cliffs, and the last step is Bryce Canyon National Park, known as the Pink Cliffs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6ae046cc-df2e-41c2-a43c-002333cb337e/Kanab--4.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out The Swirl The Vermilion Cliffs are steep eroded escarpments made of sandstone, siltstone, limestone, and shale which rise as much as 3,000 feet above their base. These sedimentary rocks have been deeply eroded for millions of years, exposing hundreds of layers of richly colored rocks. All of this erosion created the mesas, buttes, and steep canyons that are found throughout the monument. So all of that means Vermilion Cliffs is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is also not an easy place to explore with travel limited to dirt roads, deep sand tracks, or hiking through deep sand or across rocks, all in a desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9dd61644-6a81-4415-801a-d934dbd628bb/Kanab-3765.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out The Pringle The White Pocket is an isolated patch of red sandstone hidden within the desert expanse of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. The entire area is covered in a gray rock layer, sometimes only a few centimeters thick. Above the red sandstone the formations heave, twist, and drip creating the otherworldly look people come to see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8ded98e9-0a48-4dee-a0aa-9cdd8c011055/Kanab-3677.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out The Lone Tree amongst the gray rocky layer. The extraordinary geology at White Pocket is not easily explained. Some geologists proclaim that White Pocket is a result of “soft sediment deformation”, meaning the contortions and twisting and turning at White Pocket occurred back in Jurassic time while the sand was saturated and before the sand was completely turned into rock. Others believe it was created by a huge sand slide triggered by an earthquake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/64ba4217-de26-41b2-a3d2-e951ede3c00d/Kanab-3771.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out The Right Angle Joe doesn't fully or even mostly understand all of this, but does know that the end result is the most otherworldly place he has ever seen. Swirls of color, rocks bent into right angles, potato chip shapes, or just amazing contortions. It is something you need to personally experience to really understand how truly amazing it is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6957f22a-a7b0-417f-86c9-af472cbd0b3c/Kanab-3714.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out The Clam Shell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8313572c-fcba-4864-b433-2edba86953e9/Kanab-3706.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - White Pocket - Make it stand out More amazing weirdness If you want to visit the White Pocket hire a guide. The drive to White Pocket requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle or better yet an ATV. There are more than 10 miles of loose deep sand to navigate and getting stuck can cost up to $2000 for a tow, or you could sleep with the coyotes until somebody rescues you. Joe went with Kanab Western Adventures http://www.kanabwesternadventures.com/. Mike, the owner and primary guide, was both knowledgeable and easy going. He safely got Joe (and two other adventurous souls) to White Pocket, which given our experience driving ourselves to South Coyote Buttes, is not a given. He also gave great advice on where the best photo sites were and seemed to instinctively know when to speed up or slow down our pace. The best thing about Mike is he said, "Give me a call and I'll help you out with future adventures even if you don't hire me." https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/vermillion-cliffs-national-monument-south-coyote-buttes monthly 0.5 2026-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f7a9c084-77fb-4d75-b2c0-33c8ec59ce88/Red+Rock+Country-3500.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out Half and Half - the first named formation we found Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is a really remote area which straddles the Utah/Arizona border about midway between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT, about 40 miles from the nearest food, drink, and fuel. Inside the monument there is no visitor center, no flush toilets, no running water, no cell service, and no nearby help if you get yourself into trouble. So if you decide to visit, go prepared. "Prepared" includes a GPS that doesn't require a cell tower and the skills to use it correctly, the ability to navigate in a trailless environment, knowledge of how to safely hike in a dessert environment (food / water needs and the effects of heat), and a high clearance 4WD vehicle if you venture beyond Buckskin Gulch and Wirepass Trailheads. That includes Cottonwood Cove, which is where we went for this post. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8931dcc0-44ff-4e27-bfa3-543680b84f03/Red+Rock+Country-3552.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out The Sorting Hat of Harry Potter fame (more formally known as Witches Hat) To reach Cottonwood Cove we first traveled about 40 miles on US 89 from Kanab to House Valley Rock Road. HVR Rd is a gravel, rock, and severely rutted clay road that goes north to south along the west side of the monument. We followed it for a little more than 20 miles and 1.5 hours...slow going. Then we drove about 15 miles on mostly unmarked roads, with many of them not on the only paper map we had, through mostly deep (10-12 inches) loose sand. When the road wasn't deep sand it was partially exposed boulders and rock fins, which is very bouncy with our truck's stiff suspension, even at 5 mph. We spent a grand total of about 4 hours driving before we arrived at the Cottonwood Cove Trailhead. At this point we were thinking "this better be beyond awesome". On the way back to our campground we followed HVR Rd south to US 89A which saved 12 miles of dirt road driving and is a faster route. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8d32eb4d-c06d-415c-81b4-829742fcf0bf/Kanab-3571.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out The Wing Cottonwood Cove is part of the South Coyote Buttes section of the monument. There is also a North Coyote Buttes which includes 'The Wave' made famous by Microsoft when it was used as one of their screensavers. Since Microsoft publicized 'The Wave', entrance to both the North and South Coyote Butte areas requires a permit. The number of people each day is limited to 20 for each area in order to protect them from overuse. A permit is either obtained via an online lottery or an in person lottery. Ten permits for each area are allocated for each lottery. Over 200,000 people apply for a permit each year. We didn't know we would be here in time to apply online so we got our permit via the in person lottery (which was cancelled due to the pandemic then reinstated for the South section only to a calendar sign-up first come first serve system). If you get a permit, but aren't comfortable with the driving or back country navigation there are multiple guide services in the area that will drive you there and show you around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7b0708b5-5345-4e32-99b9-da79eddb1c3a/Kanab-3570.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out The Control Tower https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e93c9f61-e80f-4522-b148-096283793186/Kanab-3486.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out South Coyote Buttes monolith we climbed. The first part of the hike is about 3/4 of a mile up a sand dune to the base of a massive rock monolith. Now the trail ends and the fun begins. Joe had stored waypoints on his GPS of the named rock formations in the area and we navigated to the closest ones. This required climbing the monolith which in places was steeper than 30 degrees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c3d78253-0094-47d5-9602-6a13ce7155fe/Kanab-.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out Joe trying to find his way to the big ol' softserve ice cream https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4b62c7fe-b293-443e-83ec-1af3f001ec33/Kanab--2.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out Jane climbing the monolith https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b5cb5470-8732-4b46-af0e-5fc279d70032/Kanab-3523.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out A random amazing formation Once on top of the monolith we did a combination of wandering about in awe, resting, drinking, and snacking a bit, and using our waypoints to find the named formations. Then we selected a route out and down from the monolith which was more sand and less steep than the route we took into it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/489c2427-4fca-4082-89e6-9c0acc024c82/Kanab-3518.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out The Eagle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bbb40fc0-68a3-4c69-81ef-f8f0ded10111/Kanab-3526.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out The Dragon (crouching and looking left) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8c853a78-5bb3-458e-9637-892171f3af96/Kanab-3528.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out Close-up of the vivid colors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0a1344de-26ac-40b2-8430-a439eae3e57c/Kanab-3535.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out Mother Natures Scribble https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/779e935e-85cf-421d-b94c-ee218999ce03/Kanab-3517.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out The Manatee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/72f1a926-48a7-41d2-b87c-f59bcfe31bae/Kanab-3525.jpg Blog - Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - South Coyote Buttes - Make it stand out Vew to the north from the monolith At the end of the day the beauty and awesomeness of mother nature's rock art made the effort to get there worthwhile and we recommend this experience to those who are able to hike rock and sand dunes and are willing to pay a guide service. In hindsight, Joe would not have driven this route. He got advice from both the BLM and a professional photographer and was encouraged to drive us out there. Having now done the drive, there is too much risk of getting stuck and spending the night in the desert. We only saw six other people and two vehicles after we left House Valley Rock Road. Joe is paying to join an all-day tour to see White Pockets which is several miles further into the sand and desert than we went. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/red-rock-country-arizona monthly 0.5 2026-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0bc5af6c-45e2-4ef3-9054-b8273ca4d8aa/Red+Rock+Country-2439.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out 'The Crack' in Wet Beaver Creek Wilderness Area Rimrock, AZ. This is a very popular local swimming hole. Joe enjoys cold beer, but is not as dedicated as the folks here that carry a full cooler 3.5 miles to this spot for an enjoyable day. That is some serious dedication to drinking! As we start to write this blog it is early May and long distance RV travel is still not an easy thing to do. Many RV parks are closed and most of those that are open are not accepting new arrivals. We have found several parks that are open and will accept new arrivals if they are full time RVers like us. We are going to continue moving up in elevation in northern Arizona and southern Utah to manage the summer heat of the desert southwest, while staying in smaller towns that have few to no Covid-19 cases. Our plan is to top out at 6800 ft in Torrey, UT near Capitol Reef National Park in August then meander back to Mesa, AZ for winter. The next stop on our virus-modified travel plan was Camp Verde, AZ. About 30 miles south of Sedona, it is about 1000 feet higher and 10 degrees cooler than Mesa. When we arrived many of the world famous hikes and all of the shops of Sedona were closed, which was expected. Also, Grand Canyon National Park, not too far away, was closed with no indication of when it might re-open. Joe found some less famous hikes that were open to enjoy and the scenery is still fantastic! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6a4d1348-4d04-4a51-a1ce-93fa8bd32058/Red+Rock+Country-.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Sunrise at Watson Lake. Watson Lake is located in Prescott, AZ and is a suburban reservoir formed in a granite dells area surrounded by a county park. It is a small but beautiful lake. Joe visited the lake for sunrise. Later both Joe and Jane stopped by to enjoy the lake. We wanted to kayak there, but the weather was too hot and/or windy for the rest of our stay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/17a13dd1-5462-4e4c-99b8-11f724b6460b/Red+Rock+Country--2.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Same sunrise new location on Watson Lake. Sedona is famous for red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls, and pine forests. It also is a mecca for people who want to experience the energy vortexes located throughout the area. A vortex is a place in nature where the earth is exceptionally alive with energy. The term Vortex in Sedona refers to a place where the earth energy swirls and draws to its center everything that surrounds it like a tornado. There are four main vortex locations in Sedona: Airport Mesa, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. These vortexes have led to a proliferation of New Age shops, spas, art galleries and a very laid back lifestyle. While we enjoyed the buttes and canyons, we unfortunately never really felt the energy vortexes despite going to the airport mesa to experience it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b922990f-87a9-4c06-a250-674250d81e4f/Red+Rock+Country-2750.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Looking toward Sedona from Soldier's Pass https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7587e21e-722c-41ca-843f-9f0797751bb9/Red+Rock+Country-2742.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Lizard adjusting camo after moving from a gray rock Hiking, biking, and jeep rides are very popular in Sedona. There are multi-use trails all over the area. The app Joe most often uses to find hiking trails identified 240 within about 30 miles of Sedona. Many of these trails allow biking and horse back riding in addition to hiking. There is also a large network of unmaintained national forest roads for off road vehicles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6a913a67-5160-4c34-8652-9fc0eaa9decc/Red+Rock+Country--3.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Looking out of Soldiers Arch Cave https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/be6bf116-e73d-4836-9e08-6c12ee938443/Red+Rock+Country-2835.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Snoopy Rock. He's sound asleep 24/7 on his doghouse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/81ca7c96-33a7-4c5b-a2ac-0c4430eafb6b/Red+Rock+Country-2818.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out View from summit of Bear Mountain. 6444 feet in elevation and one very hard hike. The town of Sedona is definitely a tourist town. There are many options for lodging and food across many different price levels. It is also an artists' community with many galleries, most of which were closed for most of our visit. In late May they began to re-open. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a411f964-7ef7-4df9-97a9-d1f5f73dadfa/Red+Rock+Country-2947.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Chapel of the Holy Cross The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a catholic church built into the mountainside of red rocks. It took 18 months to build and was completed in 1956 at a cost of $300,000. It is a beautiful church that blends into the area in a stunning manner. It is well worth visiting. In addition to the church there is also a gift shop (closed when we were there). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3164cd42-720c-468e-8e84-c396f7158034/Red+Rock+Country-2934.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Chapel of the Holy Cross https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8ddae6dd-cbc3-4a5b-ae95-6c2238bba311/Red+Rock+Country-2875.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Coffee Pot Rock Coffee Pot Rock is located at the end of Coffee Pot Drive. Somebody had fun naming streets in the area: Maxwell House Dr, Coffee Cup Dr, Sanborn Dr, Hills Dr, Lipton Dr, and Grounds Dr. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ceecd0aa-a443-4dbd-a717-8541e5838abd/Red+Rock+Country--4.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out The Mallet found on Fay Canyon Trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dafb7456-93b6-480b-b74e-d13508a0e5b2/Red+Rock+Country-2963.jpg Blog - Red Rock Country Arizona - Make it stand out Devil's Bridge, probably the most famous hike in the area. The best times to visit Sedona are March - May and September - November. The summer gets hot with temperatures regularly going above 100 and in the winter it can get chilly with occasional snow. During the last week of May we had temperatures above 100 for six straight days, which limits what we can do. We enjoyed our stop in Camp Verde and now look forward to southern Utah and another nearly 2000 feet of elevation gain to reduce the heat a little bit. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/mesa-arizona monthly 0.5 2026-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3efa79ad-e7b6-43a6-a961-1bd086bdaa6f/Mesa-0230.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Beautiful sunset near Florence AZ It was not in our plans to spend October through March April (we added a month due to the coronavirus pandemic, hopefully only one) in Mesa, AZ. In fact, we had reservations and deposits to spend the winter in Naples, FL. However, our need for some medical care made stopping here in October and then staying here a necessity. We are really happy we stayed in Mesa. We found a great RV Park, new friends, fantastic outdoor activities, and a comfortable climate. We have enjoyed it so much we have already committed to stay here next fall and winter. Valle Del Oro (VDO) is the 55+ RV park where we stayed and it is by far the best RV park we have been to. It is a mix of mostly park models and some RV sites. This is a huge park with nearly 1800 fairly spacious sites packed into 90 acres. If you get bored at this place it is your fault. There are two pools, two hot tubs, live music at the pools and tiki bars (Yes John Hein plural tiki bars) each afternoon, a fitness center, sewing room, and more clubs and activities than can be described here. A few examples: photography club, hiking club, pottery studio, stained glass studio, silver smith, lapidary, wood shop, pickle ball, softball, tennis, billiards, and much, much more. It is like winter camp for geezers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/be1c8b50-5765-4fdb-b290-841bca44425a/Mesa-.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out One of Jane's Linus Quilts Jane immediately got involved with the sewing room, making quilts for Project Linus. The ladies in the sewing room (and the occasional gentleman) make over 500 quilts and blankets for sick and needy kids each year! She also has taken several quilt-related classes and field trips to local quilt shops and shows. The sewing room has 18 sewing machines and an embroidery machine, a longarm quilter, rulers, rotary cutters, cutting mats, etc., for working on your own projects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e2f909f8-9430-46de-a223-0f87f9295caf/Mesa--2.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Bree Coneja (coneja is spanish for girl bunny) Jane also has made a stuffed, jointed teddy bear and bunny. She learned how to make these in a class called "Make Your Own Teddy Bear". They are made completely by hand, with needle and thread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fe78ac4d-7641-4d86-8034-14dce6cbfa6f/Mesa-2245.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Setting sun on Superstition Mountain Joe got very involved with the Photography Club. The club sponsors local photography trips and short lectures on various photography topics. On his first trip with the club they went to lunch following the outing and discussed how to share our photos. When they learned we had our own website (journeywithjoeandjane.com) it wasn't long before Joe had agreed to design and build the club website. For those curious it is vdophotos.com. Our son Shaun generously agreed to host the club website on his server in Houghton, MI. Jane came to Mesa to get help with knee pain and peripheral neuropathy. Unfortunately, Mayo Clinic has not been able to help much and she is still sidelined from many of her favorite activities. Joe arrived in Mesa with the meniscus in his left knee torn in two places and a sprained MCL. After four months of physical therapy he started some hiking. A lot of the best hiking in the area is centered around Tonto National Forest and Superstition Wilderness area. Before the Stay at Home rules went into place he enjoyed several hikes in the area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ab801827-72b3-4838-939d-b1aa4bc92aa5/Mesa-1098.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Amazing rock formation Superstition Wilderness The above photo was made on a hike named Peralta Trailhead to Fremont Saddle. You hike about 3 miles up a valley to a pass between two mountains, passing the rock formation above and many others along the way. The view from the pass is of Weaver's Needle shown below. This was Joe's favorite hike this winter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3971305a-2608-469d-ae47-f2e887be385c/Mesa-1121.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Weavers Needle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/26248b16-87b9-46bc-9e7c-27efa353c4a0/Mesa-0171.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Praying Hands hike in Tonto National Forest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b160150-0b28-442f-8330-fdffc2d2aae4/Mesa-1667.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Honey Bee Coming in for a Landing Superstition Wilderness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/020dbb36-2b74-4eea-b716-4d41f5461301/Mesa-2300.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Boyce Thompson Cactus in bloom in Superstition Wilderness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eca40c38-8043-4330-be8c-5728f0b4d168/Mesa-2279.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Fishhook Cactus in bloom in Superstition Wilderness About 500 wild horses live in Tonto National Forest. Fortunately one of the herds can usually be found about a 20 minute drive from our campground. These mustangs are descendants of Spanish, or Iberian, horses that were brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The name was derived from the Spanish word mustengo, which means “ownerless beast”. Once escaped, these horses evolved without the influence of man and through survival of the fittest, into the incredibly durable and tough breed we see today. We have enjoyed several trips to visit the horses. We are about 50/50 at finding them. They are wild, but accustomed to the presence of humans so we can get within 20 or 30 feet without disturbing them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6ea04fba-1419-4726-a463-71f67fcb7a6a/Mesa-1464.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Salt River Wild Horses https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4124eef4-322f-409b-831b-45f9904876b7/Mesa-1446.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Salt River Stallion In addition to the horses many birds make a home along the Salt River. Below is an Arizona Cardinal. Sorry for the sports joke! BTW - we are still Packer fans and have a favorite bar we and other Packer fans can go to watch them each fall weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9e3bd977-45a4-49a5-b108-679b9120e009/Mesa--3.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out An Arizona Cardinal! Another favorite place is the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert. It is where Gilbert, AZ recycles the output of its sewer plant into the local groundwater. It is also a great place to photograph birds and a short 15 minute drive from our campground. All of the bird photos below were taken there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cdc8e41d-6277-4060-8da6-070e5f88bb93/Mesa--4.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Gambel's Quail - Riparian Preserve Gilbert, AZ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4636c3b8-c166-42f4-a561-c142dfc655aa/Mesa-9920.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Green Heron - Riparian Preserve Gilbert, AZ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/81a9f4e5-3b98-425a-b53c-a1d17883ba53/Mesa-0752.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Two male geese fighting over a girl Through the photography club Joe has found some friends who take field trips together and help each other become better photographers. The Milky Way below is an example of something Joe learned how to better shoot from his friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7cb6f3bc-4a83-48a3-ab6e-5ffce639a642/Mesa-6.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Milky Way as seen from the Peralta Trailhead Shaun visited over Christmas and as part of his visit we went to Grand Canyon National Park. There were a lot of people and a little snow on the ground. No matter the time of year, the Grand Canyon is beautiful and a wonderful place to visit. We hiked a couple miles down Bright Angel Trail into the canyon. We stopped when we felt it was getting a little dangerous to continue due to ice on the trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9d3c38c7-f4eb-4c52-abdb-51a459386c0f/Mesa-9729.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Bright Angel Trail leads to the bottom of the Grand Canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ce967ea8-ab30-445c-bd90-f04c5b9db336/Mesa--5.jpg Blog - Mesa Arizona - Make it stand out Grand Canyon. Notice two sun beams hitting the distant peaks. We just happened to be there when it happened. We have enjoyed our seven months in Mesa. It is not as warm as south Florida, but it has a pleasant climate with very few bugs! It has great RV parks with large spaces and more activities at a much lower price than the Florida RV parks. However, it does not have beaches, which we miss. It does have desert wilderness and mountains. With both of us being from WV, mountains, even without trees, are a welcome sight. Our plans for the next year have been dramatically changed by the coronavirus pandemic. We won't be traveling east to see our moms, kids, grandkids, siblings, other relatives, and friends. Mesa is too hot for RV living in the summer. We will be moving higher in elevation, planning to spend May in Camp Verde, AZ, June in Kanab, UT, July in Escalante, UT, August in Torrey, UT and September meandering back to Mesa. Interesting places we plan to visit (assuming they are still open or open up again): Sedona, Horseshoe Bend, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bears Ears National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, and Petrified Forest National Park. This will be a circle itinerary through the high desert of southern Utah and northern Arizona. Then fall and winter in Mesa. We are fortunate that Shaun visited us over Christmas and both of us visited our moms during the winter. Joe also was able to spend a long weekend with his brothers and mom to reminisce and enjoy time together with his brother Pat as he fights stage 4 cancer. Unfortunately, we have not been to see Kellie and her family. Given what we know about the coronavirus, we will plan to keep our distance from others and spend some significant time in remote places to minimize our chances of catching this thing. To all our friends and family: be careful and stay healthy. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/joshua-tree-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6464623f-3527-4e29-b075-681eea2d0b0f/Joshua+Tree-8587.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Joshua Tree Joshua Tree National Park is in southern California located where two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together. A beautiful variety of plants and animals make their homes in a harsh environment sculpted by strong winds, occasional downpours, long periods of no rain (it only rains 6 days per year and evidently very enthusiastically when it does), and high temperatures May - September. It also features surreal geologic formations, stark desert landscapes, and of course the twisted, bristled Joshua trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/30671e5b-fa22-4577-afb7-d81b68b2be32/Joshua+bTree-8549.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Joshua Tree National Park Joshua Trees are native to the arid southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, where they are confined mostly to the Mojave Desert between 1300 and 6000 feet elevation. Joshua trees are fast growers for the desert; new seedlings may grow at an average rate of 3.0 inches per year in their first 10 years, then only about 1.5 inches per year. The trunk consists of thousands of small fibers and lacks annual growth rings, making determining the tree's age difficult. This tree has a top-heavy branch system, but also has a deep and extensive root system, with roots reaching down to 36 feet. If it survives the rigors of the desert, it can live for hundreds of years; some specimens survive a thousand years. The tallest trees reach about 50 feet. New plants can grow from seed, but in some populations, new stems grow from underground rhizomes that spread out around the parent tree. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f963d74b-8560-4d9c-85f7-728d4ebc3280/Joshua+Tree-8545.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Joshua Tree Seed Pods https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ec97195b-653a-4436-ab8a-7aa367e04600/Joshua+bTree-8583.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Joshua Tree Forest. Yes, they are very spread out so each one gets a little water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6798b6b4-f797-4125-b76e-d3dd64359b97/Joshua+bTree-8551.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Cholla Cactus Cholla Cactus are a shrubby cacti with cylindrical stems. These stems are modified branches that store water, produce energy through photosynthesis, and in the spring flower. They are common in Joshua Tree National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f50f1835-ad5f-4229-add1-e40a90608042/Joshua+bTree-8461.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Chollas Cactus Garden https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7e52c629-7143-4cc9-95a4-8caa3c53102c/Joshua+bTree-8433.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Road Runner hmeep hmeep, not beep beep or meep meep, according to animation historian Michael Barrier. Alas, we never saw his nemisis Wile E. Coyote. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4ab1bf06-f6c8-4721-b7b4-aff58702bc58/Joshua+bTree-8479.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Jumbo Rocks Where did the rocks come from? As we drove through the park there were big piles of rocks seeming strewn about randomly. The sedimentary rocks are about 100 million years old and have been pushed up by tectonic action then exposed and shaped by erosion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/336f59ab-a6f4-4be1-b619-edc28de2efab/Joshua+bTree-8474.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Skull Rock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5b06a459-8678-4cbd-a9e2-3de6cb399331/Joshua+bTree-8465.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Anonymous Desert plant, without flowers I can't figure what its name is https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3e31e1bb-ff52-47bc-8bb5-17cc9dc5f98d/Joshua+bTree-8494.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Sunset https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/489c0f92-c7e5-4440-86c3-8c605ce9bae5/Joshua+Tree-8596.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Palm Desert Oasis As the crow flies it is not very far from Joshua Tree to Palm Desert, by road it took a little more than an hour to get there. In Palm Desert we visited Coachella Valley Nature Preserve. In late September it had not yet opened for the season due to the extreme heat of summer. We were told evening low temps had only recently fell from the 90's into the 80's. The staff was arriving the same day we visited and let us in to walk along the San Andreas fault. The fault has opened up pathways through the bedrock for water to percolate up forming the oasis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8f19689a-5bdf-45b9-b1b6-9fc6ff0bfff9/Joshua+Tree-8590.jpg Blog - Joshua Tree National Park - Make it stand out Boardwalk along San Andreas Fault Joshua Tree is a great place to learn about deserts of the southwest. The desert is a different kind of beautiful than we are used to. If you go, be careful. It is very easy to get in trouble on a desert hike. Take lots of water and do not assume you can hike as far in the desert as you can in a more humid lower temperature location. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/birds-of-phoenix monthly 0.5 2026-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/532fcfc0-f865-4f5e-99fd-28a29efc948c/Birds+of+Phoenix-9110.jpg Blog - Birds of Phoenix - Make it stand out Black-necked Stilts stay here year round . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/15692100-c7ac-43bc-ba5a-18c94ede1323/Birds+of+Phoenix-9067.jpg Blog - Birds of Phoenix - Make it stand out Gambrel's Quail a native of the desert. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e886d1ea-cc0c-4f19-9fe7-fc659e829013/Birds+of+Phoenix-9096.jpg Blog - Birds of Phoenix - Make it stand out Great Egret https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/39aecdd2-72fc-4bc1-8447-376affabd43c/Birds+of+Phoenix-.jpg Blog - Birds of Phoenix - Make it stand out Green Heron https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/80c84386-9eef-44e6-b3dc-47b9a6af7e55/Birds+of+Phoenix-8924.jpg Blog - Birds of Phoenix - Make it stand out Mexican Amberwing Dragon Fly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/487ec3da-b572-4d6c-9c5b-c2cd6d9860d1/Birds+of+Phoenix--2.jpg Blog - Birds of Phoenix - Make it stand out Roseate Skimmer Dragon Fly https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks monthly 0.5 2026-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/58a3e9e9-6397-4079-b71d-257f56786d71/Sequoia-.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Giant Forest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5adb31f6-05fb-4a09-8bc8-cb4a7d20a4f4/Sequoia-8259.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out General Sherman Tree, largest living thing on earth. If you look closely you can see people at the base. The General Sherman Tree is the world's largest living thing. It germinated about 200 years before Jesus walked the earth, is 275 feet tall, and has a circumference of 102 feet. It weighs an estimated 2,770,000 pounds. Its largest branch is 7 feet in diameter, larger than most trees. Each year it adds as much wood as a fully mature tree that is 60 feet tall. It is truly impressive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/718ddffe-6eeb-4807-a724-f693bbb32bc7/Sequoia-8354.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Rootball of a fallen Sequoia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1eb2f16f-6e35-4084-aabd-f3cc27dc9f96/Sequoia--2.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Tunnel Tree So far more than 200 caves have been found in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, with about one new cave discovered each year. Most caves are in the western third of the parks in the bands of marble running from north to south. We toured Crystal Cave and agree it is the most beautiful cave we have toured. The combination of minerals and marble result in some amazing sights. There is a half mile walk to the cave, then the guided tour lasts about one hour. The walk to the cave is all downhill, so the walk back to the parking lot is all uphill and pretty steep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ad5d83b9-d5b0-49a4-b01d-844ae3c36e18/Sequoia-8282.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Drapery in Crystal Cave https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0b7e2c1f-b95b-430d-b634-1e6dd14b88d7/Sequoia-8273.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Marble stream bed Crystal Cave https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7903447b-369c-42b3-8782-cf142dc4ac60/Sequoia-8287.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Boxwork Crystal Cave https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fd9ae15f-6031-4bb4-823d-ec03945ddc36/Sequoia-8311.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Waterfall on the hike to Crystal Cave https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e3be24e9-ef10-4f81-b692-3d030c20172f/Sequoia-8266.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out The California Sister butterfly is common in this area. As you enter Sequoia National Park, Moro Rock looms overhead, thousands of feet above the road. This large granite dome is a spectacular geologic feature that can be enjoyed from above or below. From the time you first see Moro Rock it is about a 45 minute drive where you will ascend around 5000 ft and drive one of the curviest roads on earth! Enjoy, the passengers will be treated to some awesome views and there are ample pullouts to stop and take in the view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a2ecb4b1-58c9-4361-8a18-d8a2e4a1e433/Sequoia-8249.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Moro Rock A narrow concrete and stone stairway leads to the top of Moro Rock. Along the way you will encounter lots of stairs, 1000+ foot drops offs, narrow passages, and breathtaking views. As you climb above the forests's canopy, the Great Western Divide's peaks become visible and views open up from the foothills and San Joaquin Valley to the west, to deep into wilderness to the east. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/73dac8c3-1c2e-4542-bf48-e56b86aaccd5/Sequoia-8346.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Moro Rock Trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b46cbc47-c8ba-42ba-9b46-6747d2a96e74/Sequoia-8323.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Great Western Divide seen from Moro Rock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/19ecbecf-36d0-4a50-91b1-c0b98c9fe640/Sequoia-8337.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Lizard catching some rays on Moro Rock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ef9e24b2-4182-484a-8f10-5b11d1d5bb84/Sequoia-8333.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Wind and water can create amazing sculptures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/15162c3e-8b4a-4e5b-8651-aac20eb12b3b/Sequoia-8341.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out We made it to the top of Moro Rock! Just down the road from our camp site was the central valley of California that provides more than half of our nation's fruits, nuts, and vegetables. We saw almonds, olives, oranges, lemons, limes, apples, and many more we couldn't identify. Miles and miles of different kinds of fruit and nut trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c343eebf-43da-41cb-b8ff-28f7f4b37d29/Sequoia--3.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Orange Grove in Central Valley Kings Canyon National Park is adjacent to Sequoia National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s known for its huge sequoia trees, the spectacular Kings Canyon, and the eastern Sierra Nevada. Between the sequoias and the eastern Sierra Nevada are rushing rivers and towering granite canyon walls formed by both erosion and glaciation. Kings Canyon was a two hour drive from our campsite so we spent one day exploring the canyon and did not visit the sequoia trees since we had seen them in Sequoia National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/88d6ee2e-a19c-44b2-9217-e913bbcdd8b4/Kings+Canyon-8355.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Kings Canyon is the left canyon. Notice the road down the right side of the picture. Another multi mile drive with 1000+ foot drop-offs and very little guard rail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7c463dc3-7b6f-4b77-9393-eb01e3180f0e/Kings+Canyon--4.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Typical Kings River rapids https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3e544a37-2be8-48f2-ab96-055c20ffad61/Kings+Canyon-8413-2.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Roaring River Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e2aac845-8729-453b-bede-68c6c6631e2f/Kings+Canyon-8410.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Roaring River surrounded by steep canyon walls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/75a52322-35a0-4a71-8a4a-2d3e1d8a4535/Kings+Canyon-8396.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Grizzly Falls Kings Canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/63d820a0-286f-44b7-91bb-887ef0bb3499/Kings+Canyon-8419.jpg Blog - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Make it stand out Glacial debris in the far east part of Kings Canyon Sequoia and Kings Canyon are beautiful parks with the chance to see the largest trees on earth. It takes lots of driving to see them if you don't stay in the park. We spent an hour each way to get to the Giant Forest area of Sequoia and two hours to get into Kings Canyon. There are also vehicle length limits of 22 feet. Curvy roads are fun to drive, but would be a lot more fun with something sportier than our 22 foot long dually. If we get back this way we hope to do more hiking and see more of the parks. We were both limited due to knee injuries and unable to really enjoy the things we usually do. Hopefully next time we can either see or hike some part of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states at 14,505 feet, located in Sequoia. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/yosemite-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d923ca00-d678-4a1a-9746-4295a40e6c24/Yosemite-8171.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Half Dome (upper right) as seen from Glacier Point The formation of Yosemite Valley began about 50 million years ago. What we see today is the result of periods of erosion, tectonic upheaval, and glaciation. In several of the glacial periods, the entire valley was filled by the glacier with only Half Dome above the ice. The valley is actually about 5000 feet deep, with 2000 feet of glacial till and sediment being what we stand on today, resulting in the 3000 foot deep valley. There are four geographic areas of the park to visit. The granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley and Hetch Hetchy, the floor of Yosemite Valley, the High Sierra, and the Sequoia Groves. The granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley and Hetch Hetchy are stunning, and they offer some of the best rock climbing in the world. You don't have to be a climber to see them up close, though. There are several hikes up or down the valley walls; if you are up to the challenge, go for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9da5a15f-4f25-4cd3-9efd-974d15a8751c/Yosemite-7985.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out El Capitan El Capitan is the world's largest granite monolith. It dominates the view as you enter Yosemite Valley from the west. Since it is 3000 feet high, the climbers on its face look so tiny they are barely visible with the naked eye. El Capitan is a favorite of rock climbers and was featured in the recent movie Free Solo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ab84a203-cb99-48a0-9e5e-340544eb9f17/Yosemite-.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Half Dome at sunset Since he started planning this year's journey Joe has wondered where the other half of Half Dome is, expecting it to be a pile of granite rubble in the valley below Half Dome. It turns out there is no other half - this is all there ever was. There are many places in the valley from which to view Half Dome. Our favorite was Sentinel Bridge, where you can also see a reflection of it in the Merced River. At sunset the peak appears to be made of gold. The other great place to view it from is Glacier Point - at 7200 feet in elevation you are looking across to it rather than up at it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/05046ac9-0607-4766-8997-dad9ac9a7887/Yosemite--2.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out 617-foot Bridal Veil Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eac9cb8f-0313-4fa2-93a3-4a3959afa71a/Yosemite-8107.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Merced River plunging over 317-foot Vernal Falls. Also part of the granite cliff geography are the waterfalls. The waterfalls in Yosemite are fed from snow melt and are at their peak flow in late May to early June. We were not able to get there until late August, resulting in some of the waterfalls being completely dry and all of them being at low flows for the year. Even at low flow they are still beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e00487b0-cae3-4187-812d-90857cfb9cdc/Yosemite--3.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Park Entrance HWY 140 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cfbc098c-1bf8-4742-8aab-969f3410003f/Yosemite--4.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Boulder along park road https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7504022f-27a9-442e-b10a-20bf881bf8d0/Yosemite-1.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Overhanging rock on HWY 140 park exit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2ccb3f84-9e1b-4750-a511-5a6f631d8d45/Yosemite-8141.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Huge Boulders in Merced River https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b3f54a4f-e944-4925-8e9c-a4a7c08ef403/Yosemite-8138.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out House-size boulders Massive boulders are littered throughout the park, especially near the Merced River. They have fallen off the cliff faces over time. This process continues today and you can see dents in the road where heavier rocks have fallen. It is common to see road signs that say Active Rock Slide Area Next 2 Miles Do Not Stop. Presumably it's better to be a moving target than a stationary one. On Highway 140 about 2 miles from our campground the highway had to be rerouted in 2006 due to a massive rock slide. The slide is still active and still too dangerous to clear today, resulting in one-way traffic across two 'temporary' bridges (across the river, past the slide, then back over) with a 45-foot vehicle length limit. BTW - we crossed these bridges with our 58-foot truck and camper combination and had no problems (besides Joe's white knuckles). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fdcf801a-7f8d-4c54-bc77-be94e275d496/Yosemite-8128.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Merced River with a "fedora" cloud https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/481864f9-ae29-474e-aa76-18693e7449bb/Yosemite-8158.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Yosemite High Sierra The High Sierra has smooth granite domes, craggy peaks up to 13,000 feet, beautiful mountain meadows, and alpine lakes. We drove through this area of the park on our way to the campground where we stayed, but were unable to stop and explore. It was a two-hour drive back to the High Sierra, so we will have to return another time and stay on the east side of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4c3b9fd6-ef4b-4577-8a1e-1e64fd40f656/Yosemite-8066.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out The Grizzly Giant sprouted about 200 AD, is 209 feet tall, and has a circumference of 92 feet at the base. It is the 25th largest tree in the world. The last geographic region of the park is the Sequoia Groves. There are at least three groves of these giants in the park. We visited the Mariposa Grove, the largest and most visited. This grove and Yosemite Valley were originally protected by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. More on Sequoia Trees in our next post from Sequoia National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fe00f7cf-8ac5-49f2-8269-de1f53c8506b/Yosemite-7984.jpg Blog - Yosemite National Park - Make it stand out Tunnel View made famous by Ansel Adams. It is hard to take a bad picture here! (Half Dome is in the center of the picture.) Yosemite is an incredibly beautiful park and we encourage everyone to visit it someday. A return trip is needed to see the waterfalls in May / June, explore the High Sierra, and do some longer hikes. Both of us currently have knee injuries and could not hike very far this time. Doctor visits are scheduled and we hope to be healed in the not too distant future. The valley is crowded and parking between 11 am and 4 pm is a problem, but it can be managed by arriving outside that window. Yosemite is a large park, about 760,000 acres, and outside of the valley we found the roads to be narrow and very curvy. (Bring your anti-nausea medication!) Our campsite was only a 10-minute drive from the Highway 140 Park entrance (which is closest to Yosemite Valley) and it still took 45 minutes to get into the park, get to parking near the shuttle buses, and find a parking place. Other areas of the park were between one and two hours drive each way. So when you visit plan lots of time to get to what you want to see. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/devils-postpile-national-monument monthly 0.5 2026-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4261a868-6146-4ade-bc99-aa7c3380b78f/Devils+Postpile-7835.jpg Blog - Devils Postpile National Monument - Make it stand out Devils Postpile The columns have from 3 to 7 sides and their tops can be seen if you hike a short distance to the top of the Postpile. If you look closely you can see the grooves left by the glacier as it moved across them. The tops of the columns are amazingly smooth and even, especially considering they have been exposed to the elements for about 12,000 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/aa8c3f5c-d312-4c70-b9c3-9e5625da7c54/Devils+Postpile-7839.jpg Blog - Devils Postpile National Monument - Make it stand out Close-up of tops of columns, with striations left by glaciers. The top of the pile is quite large! End view of a fallen column. It is big enough to use for a bench! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ae5b36e9-9999-421f-a07d-1fceb1fbd187/Devils+Postpile-.jpg Blog - Devils Postpile National Monument - Make it stand out Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. This is a beautiful valley! The Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River flows through the valley containing the Devils Postpile. At the south end of the monument lies Rainbow Falls. It is there because of two different layers of cooled lava. The upper layer is harder than the lower layer. Water going over the 101 ft high waterfall erodes the softer lower rock layer and the face of the falls moves north a tiny bit each year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/04e1a5ff-88e4-435c-9aa0-8498b0bcf425/Devils+Postpile-7857.jpg Blog - Devils Postpile National Monument - Make it stand out 103 foot Rainbow Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d4210a59-4b36-4972-bcd8-b2e8bf95149c/Devils+Postpile-7850.jpg Blog - Devils Postpile National Monument - Make it stand out Top of Rainbow Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e2d9ba4e-51e8-437c-90a2-7255f55556e7/Devils+Postpile-7893.jpg Blog - Devils Postpile National Monument - Make it stand out Milky Way over Bridgeport, CA Devils Postpile is open when the roads are snow-free. This year it opened July 4th and is expected to stay open until mid-October. It is a great one-day visit and the scenery is beautiful. There are shuttle buses to take you to the various sites inside the national monument from the parking lots at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort. The bus costs $8 per person and as far as we know is the only way to get to the Devils Postpile. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/lassen-volcanic-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7eed880c-ec14-40f5-b469-40975a781fcf/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Chaos Crags and Mt Lassen at sunrise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8bb1bff5-09b4-4e2a-90c7-4b0bbba4471b/Lassen+Volcanic+NP--2.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f23fea30-4d20-47c4-a49e-c253594c115b/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7749.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Mt Lassen caldera 10,463 ft in elevation Joe hiked to the peak at 10,463 feet in elevation. The Lassen Peak trail is a 5-mile hike with more switchbacks than he has ever experienced before. It was tough going above 9000 feet, requiring lots of water and air breaks. The trick to high-elevation hiking is taking a break prior to needing a break. Anytime you start breathing heavily or getting thirsty, find a rock to sit on and get some oxygen (breathe regular air until your heart and respiration rates go back to normal) and water. You can't push through altitude sickness, you can only prevent it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e2266388-aa67-4959-9e60-9810cf1be01b/Lassen+Volcanic+NP--3.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Dead Tree captured by Jane, Queen of the Dead Trees Today Mt Lassen is quiet, but is still considered active. There are several areas of the park where volcanic activity is readily apparent. You can find mudpots, steaming ground, fumaroles, and sulfurous gas emissions. Unfortunately for us the short hike to the best area to see this activity (Bumpass Hell) was closed for trail improvements while we visited. We did, however, stop by Sulfur Works, which is roadside, to see mudpots, boiling cauldrons, and (unfortunately) smell sulfurous emissions. It reminded us of Yellowstone National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1a5f5fac-ecaf-4eb1-aec3-43ce29543c6b/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7525.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Mudpot at Sulfur Works https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/63b36ef9-9d40-4f4d-aa2e-64b20ac46d34/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7790.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Whitebark Pine doing what it takes to survive the harsh environment. Whitebark pines are found in the subalpine areas of the Cascade Mountains and other high elevation mountain ranges in the western US and Canada. They are typically the highest elevation pine trees found. We have seen them several times in our travels this summer. They have a symbiotic relationship with Clark's Nutcrackers. The seeds of the white bark pine provide food for the Clark's Nutcracker. The nutcrackers collect seeds and cache them in various places to retrieve when food is scarce. These caches happen to provide good places for seed germination and survival of the seedlings, so white bark pines tend to be found in small clumps. The white bark pine is an endangered species due to increasing prevalence of white pine blister rust and pine mountain beetles. This increase in disease and pests can be traced to fire suppression efforts of the last 100 years, which allowed diseased and damaged trees to survive and pine beetle populations that should have been periodically reduced by fire to thrive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5cc083c7-7968-4fc8-82db-8cf3314caaa0/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7718.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Clark's Nutcracker in a White bark Pine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f81e6a83-60df-483c-a71b-420107683522/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7502.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out California Tortoiseshell Butterfly While we were visiting Mt Lassen we were fortunate to observe a California Tortoiseshell migration. These butterflies settle in an area, make lots more butterflies, eat up all the food, then migrate to a new area and do it all again. They were everywhere we went above 7500 feet, even at 10,463 feet on top of Lassen Peak. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5d8d6510-6c23-4d31-9a01-3450bb231409/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7726.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Brokeoff Mountain Brokeoff Mountain is perfectly described by its name. Part of the mountain just broke off! It happened about 350,000 years ago when local volcanic activity shifted from Brokeoff Mountain to Mount Lassen. The rocks on Brokeoff Mountain were easily and quickly eroded due to their chemical make-up (related to past volcanic activity). That is as far as our understanding goes about how part of the mountain broke off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/49c2418b-9fa3-4428-9341-6b45955b034b/Lassen+Volcanic+NP-7562.jpg Blog - Lassen Volcanic National Park - Make it stand out Burney Falls About 20 miles from our campground we found McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. Its signature feature is Burney Falls, probably the most beautiful waterfall we have seen. By the time we visited in mid-August all of the water coming over the falls was from an aquifer. In spring and early summer the aquifer flow is enhanced by snowmelt from nearby mountains. What makes this waterfall beautiful is the multiple streams of water from multiple levels across the entire cliff face. We have seen many volcanoes this summer as we traveled down the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges. It is awesome to see how our earth builds these mountains and then often blows them up. It reminds me of a young child with blocks, building a tower and knocking it down. Finding evidence of the eruptions miles from the caldera has demonstrated the power and violence of the eruptions. This cycle has been going on for millions of years in the Lassen Volcanic Park area. This is a great park to visit and learn about volcanoes. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/lava-beds-national-monument monthly 0.5 2026-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b36a513b-4efd-41f9-82b0-648d63049966/Lava+Beds-7320.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Entrance to Skull Cave Lava tubes are formed when streams of lava start to cool. The center of the stream stays hot and continues to flow as the outside cools and hardens. The hot lava drains out, leaving a tube-like cave. Multiple eruptions can stack lava tubes on top of one another, creating multi-level caves such as Skull Cave that Jane is entering in the photo above. Skull Cave is a large, multi-level lava tube that is not very long, but is very deep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9e147191-a0ca-4e69-96bd-04b47a929b12/Lava+Beds-7329.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Ice floor in Skull Cave It is so deep that cold air from winter gets trapped in the bottom of the cave where collected rainwater freezes, creating the year-round ice floor, shown above, which is several feet thick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9b515084-9a92-4ffa-9fc7-c54d6235b75b/Lava+Beds-7367.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Modoc Pictographs The Modoc and their ancestors lived in this area for about 10,000 years. They called it "the land of burnt-out fires" and their lives followed the rhythms of nature. They left behind numerous pictographs in the lava caves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/246987cd-dbb0-4db2-9784-65b2d9fa1c51/Lava+Beds-7454.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Callahan Lava flow The Callahan Lava flow can be found at the end of a 3.5 mile hike and is massive. What can be seen from the end of the trail is several hundred yards long and about 50 feet high. We have no idea how wide the flow is due to its size and a fence at the end of the trail preventing us from going further. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ad15e98e-ebaf-410f-ab70-3d243b292442/Lava+Beds-7445.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Mt Shasta as seen from Lava Beds. That is a lot of snow for August! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/19f41041-438d-4a12-931c-f4b538e475ef/Lava+Beds-7401.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Dawn is coming to Lava Beds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/82e9e2b5-9513-44be-bd84-b282073a2e14/Lava+Beds-7476.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Wild flowers we were not able to Identify. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2077c21c-23bf-4bfa-8c83-b9c4732d612a/Lava+Beds-7466.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Juniper Berries https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d6063abf-285e-480b-b949-62072534b74b/Lava+Beds-7469.jpg Blog - Lava Beds National Monument - Make it stand out Paintbrush We only stayed at Lava Beds a few days, but we really enjoyed ourselves. This was our first time to enter a cave in a national park without a guide. We traveled maybe half a mile in absolute darkness by ourselves ("Bring your own flashlight"). It is a unique experience. One thing we learned is that our cellphone lights are not nearly as bright as we thought they were. You won't stumble onto Lava Beds; you need to plan to go there. It is not a very long drive from Crater Lake and lodging can be found less than 50 miles from the park, so if you are in the area it is worth a day or two of exploring. One other note: we have found that generally national monuments are less crowded than national parks and are great to visit in their own right. We'll be seeing more of them. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/crater-lake-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ab745805-d84f-40a8-85f6-f09b7fdd6b00/Crater+Lake-7243.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out Crater Lake seen from Mt Scott, which is 2,750 feet above the surface of the lake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2fa82240-d1ce-453b-af49-5a11a44ac319/Crater+Lake-7294.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out Phantom Ship. It is 500 feet long and 175 feet tall! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/09d671ce-0f29-46b4-bce7-41f468f3f1a7/Crater+Lake-7017.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out Wizard Island, a cinder cone that formed after the large eruption https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d57ac5c9-bb0c-453d-a04b-496945f5c294/Crater+Lake-7029.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out The famous blue color of Crater Lake is made possible by the incredible clarity of the water . The Pinnacles were formed during Mount Mazama's eruption 7,700 years ago. These tall needle-like formations of rock, called fossil fumaroles, were formed under layers of volcanic pumice that preceded Mazama’s collapse. As the surface of the hot pumice cooled over the years, steam and gases were released by the hot rocks underneath. The steam and gases escaped through vents and tubes, welding their sides into cement hardness. Erosion of the surrounding softer materials left these ancient vents now standing alone. The Pinnacles are found a short walk from the road along a gravel path. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/918d03d7-99fe-476a-abe1-db23b29fbc3d/Crater+Lake-7119.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out The Pinnacles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9f9ae03c-f50d-4d49-9456-cb004b993bac/Crater+Lake-.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out This is what cooled lava looks like when there is more than one type of melted rock that has a different melting point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c508f045-90cb-487f-9e2b-bd92296afeb9/Crater+Lake-7136.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out Plaikni Falls. This beautiful waterfall is at the end of a 1-mile hike with very little elevation gain. We hiked the Castle Creek Wildflower Trail, a half-mile loop that went through the meadow below. It was a beautiful meadow with a small creek winding through it and tons of butterflies and bees among the flowers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/891b29aa-8d6b-4c6e-9aeb-fa8f91f43c70/Crater+Lake-7086.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out Sub-alpine meadow. This meadow was filled with butterflies, bees, and unfortunately, mosquitoes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/af70b2c9-a821-4d4a-af50-d13d6f391e9a/Crater+Lake-7107.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out Reakirt's Blue Butterfly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/de57755f-ff7b-4ce7-8c21-90984ffa4e1b/Crater+Lake-7177.jpg Blog - Crater Lake National Park - Make it stand out North Western Fritillary Butterfly Crater Lake is a beautiful place to visit. We usually take our own truck to enjoy the scenery, but this time we took the Crater Lake Trolley. It is a 2-hour ride around Rim Road, which circles the lake. During the ride the trolley stops several times for pictures and sightseeing. A Park Ranger on the trolley provides a lot of great information about the park. We really enjoyed it and will do similar things in the future. Most visitors go to Rim Village, the easiest place to look at the lake, get a souvenir, and then leave. Some others drive the Rim Road around the lake, and then a few of us also add several hikes away from lake. When you get a chance to visit beautiful places like Crater Lake, give yourself the time to slow down and get away from the crowd and you will be rewarded! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/mt-hood-and-columbia-river-gorge monthly 0.5 2026-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3604600c-cddf-446c-a65c-da3e269713e8/Columbia+River+Gorge.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Isaac with us at Multnomah Falls The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River, created over the last 17 million years as the river has cut through the Cascade Range. Up to 4,000 feet deep, the gorge stretches for over 80 miles. Along the way numerous waterfalls have been created. The climate transitions from 10 inches of rainfall each year in the east to 100 inches in the west near Portland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0caf511c-bd6a-4190-b669-5a5d0d56a66f/Mt+Rainier-6793.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and one of the easiest to reach anywhere. It is located about 30 minutes east of Portland beside I-84 with parking and a walkway to the falls easily reached from the interstate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e52020d9-22bf-486b-90e5-8b04bfa2f0c0/Mt+Rainier-.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Latourell Falls, 249 feet, located along historic US 30 in the gorge https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fb774b47-cf75-44d5-9a17-3571f1b2ef36/Columbia+River+Gorge-6803.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Columbia River Gorge from the Vista House, looking east After a few days in the gorge we moved closer to Mt Hood, an 11,249-ft stratovolcano that is considered to be active. The last minor eruption occurred in 1907. There are lots of outdoor activities available in the area. We rode the ski lift up to an elevation of about 7000 ft and did a little exploring. We found pumice, volcanic boulders, and and high-altitude plants. We also went kayaking in a local lake and hiking to see a few waterfalls. We were at Mt Hood in late July and several slopes were still open for skiing and snowboarding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8be0b86a-f882-405b-9df7-e0efabad3f3d/Mt+Hood.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Sunset at Mt Hood https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ea617ce8-b062-497f-bbfe-35a309bc2887/Mt+Hood-.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Zigzag Falls, a short walk on an easy trail. It is quite beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5baf788d-f3b3-4586-ad28-ec1dba885bcc/Mt+Hood--2.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Zigzag River below the falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/47b749d2-783f-43ab-b518-1cb158d4b6a6/Mt+Hood-1566441004740.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Joe and Isaac taking a break on Mt Hood at about 7000 ft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6e2b49a3-eede-4359-841c-017840e204b0/Mt+Hood-6907.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out Volcanic Rocks and High Altitude Flowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dc698796-7f83-40f6-b42b-fb08974669ff/Mt+Hood-6913.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out High Altitude Flowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7a6e99f0-0b1d-43e7-9df7-3988ced4d017/Mt+Hood--3.jpg Blog - Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge - Make it stand out While near Portland we were lucky enough to have dinner with our friends from Neenah, WI -- Greg and Marcia Macdonald, Em, and Courtney (who took the photo). We enjoyed some super Oregon beer, good food, and great company alongside the Columbia River. Marcia told us about the world's largest bookstore which is located in Portland, Powell's City of Books. We went to Powell's with Isaac and another friend from our days in Neenah, Rob Reinders, who was in Portland for a few days. The book store is massive and has a huge variety of new and used books, including a large rare books section. We hadn't seen Rob for several years and enjoyed our evening with him. Oh yeah, and Joe parallel parked our dually in downtown Portland and managed to get close enough to the curb that the light rail didn't hit the truck or need to slow down to avoid it! The Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood and Portland were fun. We had been in the woods for about two weeks and a little civilization was good for us. There is much more to do than we had time for, but that often happens to us. The area is a nice combination of outdoor activities and large city. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/mt-rainier monthly 0.5 2026-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0a71a0d9-7278-4f85-89dc-00ceba741c90/Mt+Rainier-6255.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Mt Rainier. Looking at Emmons Glacier, largest by area in the lower 48. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a3c278b5-2e2f-494a-aead-a6eb9e30fe6e/Mt+Rainier-6290.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out East shoulder of Rainier - craggy peaks and glaciers. Snow and glacial melt feed the many creeks and rivers in the park. The steep slopes and hard rocks create the waterfalls. As you drive through the park streams of various sizes are seen regularly. A number of waterfalls are located close by the road for easy viewing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/25f958ec-a0c1-4ef5-b7eb-b0fdcdfe36cb/Mt+Rainier-6221.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Narada Falls is about a quarter mile off the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/97f579ec-4ba5-4f0b-a1c1-c6c6672ae118/Mt+Rainier-6209.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Christine Falls is found roadside. The bridge is the road! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3333b0fb-7cf6-46e7-bdde-c070423ddce1/Mt+Rainier-6346.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Comet Falls 320 feet high. This one is not close to the road. It took Joe 3 hours of hiking to reach the waterfall. Some days in the Pacific Northwest are very foggy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a8c19557-e4c9-4160-a986-159c2d9cd4c4/Mt+Rainier-6785.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Sunbeam Falls, roadside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/57f61fc6-7446-4cd5-aef4-3300f0de280e/Mt+Rainier-6551.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Silver Falls, a beautiful cataract and reasonable hike for all. There are 260 miles of hiking trails of all different levels of difficulty from easy to strenuous. We hiked the Silver Falls Trail to the beautiful waterfall shown above. It is a half mile to the falls (then another half mile back) with about 200 feet of elevation change. Joe hiked the Skyline Trail, the most difficult trail he has completed in all our travels. It is about a 6 mile loop, with an elevation gain of over 1700 feet, a lot of large rocks, and hiking through streams and snow. It was a lot of effort, but the great views made it well worthwhile! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a66e5e82-1cb5-4207-856c-be4809ee4825/Mt+Rainier-6680.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Skyline Trail. Joe sank into the snow up to his knees on this section. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d1f4cdea-48a9-4055-b7b4-80a8a1407910/Mt+Rainier-6700.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Typical high altitude trail conditions on the Skyline Trail. This section is is tough on the ankles and knees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2af38f00-b5f2-4a30-b026-89bfdc8b17e2/Mt+Rainier-6632.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Trailside view, Skyline Trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8d019995-e6d7-44ba-b499-7d74fbd61a82/Mt+Rainier-6307.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Golden-mantled ground squirrels are found all around Mt Rainier. It's not a chipmunk, because the stripes don't continue onto its face. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0a749317-9f16-4348-a6d9-9b6ea8d7c348/Mt+Rainier-6689.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Hoary Marmot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6deba0b0-f3a9-4af1-bb99-58af8d59ab0e/Mt+Rainier-6316.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Edith's Checkerspot butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0065f0cb-4a9c-4d56-884d-64fa026ab3b7/Mt+Rainier-6405.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Columbia tiger lily https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/aa89036a-794b-402a-8666-7721a3d07119/Mt+Rainier-6512.jpg Blog - Mt Rainier - Make it stand out Mt Rainier reflected in Reflection Lake Mt Rainier is one awesome National Park and is one of Joe's favorites. It has amazing waterfalls, mountain views, woodland hikes, and wildlife. However, plan to spend plenty of time there if you want to see the mountain and really enjoy the hikes. We spent 11 days nearby and only had 3 days where the summit was visible. More howevers, there is no good kayaking for novices/lake kayakers, the great hikes are mostly not doable for those not in excellent physical condition, and the weather at the summit requires patience for the great views. Also, unless you stay at Paradise it is a minimum 40 mile drive one way to reach the amazing parts of the park. One final thought: late July or early August is the best time to visit in order to see the wildflowers and mostly avoid snow covered trails. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/mt-st-helens monthly 0.5 2026-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/10107a72-9cb2-43fa-90c4-1be9e6260037/Mt+St+Helens-6186.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Mt St Helens hid behind clouds for the 3 days we were there. We were at Mt St Helens for 3 days and the above photo is the best view we got of the mountain. After moving to Mt Rainier we were able to get to Mt St Helens again, from a different side. We were 144 miles by road from the first view point, yet we could see it from the second one. After 9 days in our new area the skies cleared and... wow! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1b15d06f-7fbb-412a-8029-ed5f4dacedf2/Mt+St+Helens-6502.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Mt St Helens vista (picture by Jane) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6692aaaa-4e08-4e72-8849-6426b840fb99/Mt+St+Helens-6491.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Close up of Mt St Helens with Spirit Lake in the lower right. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ba55ca24-7ee3-4410-b939-c5df22989372/Mt+St+Helens-6179.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Hummocks (large pieces of mountain) litter the area. Note the elk herd in the center of the photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5cf14b01-3091-4b00-8b87-18186d98ef6d/Mt+St+Helens-6197.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out New life among the debris https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/df38c662-af1e-4efe-bde8-29951cc4dc29/Mt+St+Helens-6173.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out More life among the devastation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eac779c9-7346-4247-936a-459aa9390a9e/Mt+St+Helens-6181.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Mountain goat taking a break from a long day of eating grass and wildflowers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/87f3927a-b39b-40ac-863f-f566ff0cef33/Mt+St+Helens-.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Downed and standing trees from the eruption. Many were cleaned up and used for lumber. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0606550c-1bdc-4a1e-b8bd-0175982b650d/Mt+St+Helens-6487.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out Spirit Lake, just north of Mt St Helens. The white things in the water are trees still floating in the lake from the 1980 eruption. The bed of the lake rose 200 ft and the surface area doubled that day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7429267d-f367-442f-9725-e070de0c4773/Mt+St+Helens-6474.jpg Blog - Mt St Helens - Make it stand out This car belonged to a family of three miners and was tossed like a toy. The miners all died in a nearby cabin which was in the "safe zone" but wasn't safe. The car has been in this location for 39 years; look how shiny the bumper still is while the body disintegrates - just another mystery. Today the area around Mt St Helens is a National Monument and a living laboratory where scientists can study how life returns after a major disaster and tourists can learn about volcanoes and see how they can affect life. Over time forests will return to Mt St Helens. Some day in the next few hundred years the mountain will erupt again and the cycle will start over, as it has many times in the past. The large pieces of mountain strewn about the area, even high on nearby ridges, the gorges carved through the hundreds of feet of debris depth, the miles of land devoid of trees, and the miles of downed and standing dead trees -- seeing all of this really gives one perspective on the violence and energy of volcanic eruptions. The one state and two federal information centers are definitely worth the visit; there is a lot to learn while there. We are really glad we stopped. It is educational and sobering to see the impact one mountain can have in just a few hours. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/oregon-and-washington-coast monthly 0.5 2026-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7095f240-7fb8-4af3-b1c1-7c389d3d80ec/Oregon+Coast-.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Sunset Bay State Park. This is not Sunset Bay, but an unnamed bay south of Sunset Bay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/34471520-7ec4-43bd-9881-e7fa80768806/Oregon+Coast-5575.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out We climbed down a 300-ft cliff to explore these tidal pools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8dbf54dd-83a0-4a3b-87f8-5d8bc0f7c75e/Oregon+Coast-5599.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out This Steller sea lion was also exploring the tidal pools. This guy is about 10 ft long, 1000 pounds and 10 feet away from me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4b2f04f5-12ee-43f8-a996-523f3aa49737/Oregon+Coast-5584.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Erosion does some really cool things. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7757ea88-dfee-47db-b344-7e1db69ff3a1/Oregon+Coast-5711.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out This is a rock wall and the 'mushrooms' are about 6 ft in diameter, exposed when the surrounding sandstone eroded. They should make quite a splash when they let go! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/296a779f-99a4-441c-a20f-8dc4941132a1/Oregon+Coast-5709.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Sandstone has eroded away to reveal this ancient petrified tree trunk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/727aab5b-a7e1-4e81-82dd-d0206fce05fe/Oregon+Coast-5724.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out The maritime layer rolls in. It moves in and out quickly. We went kayaking in a little protected cove off the Pacific Ocean, exploring during low tide looking for sea creatures. No Joe or Jane photos; We haven't been willing to risk my camera or our phones on an ocean kayak trip yet. We saw starfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, crabs, some tiny moon jellyfish, and many different types of sea plants. Additionally we saw some amazing rocks. Some were uplifted by tectonic forces and others eroded by surf, wind, and rain into beautiful shapes and colors. The photo below I found online available for no charge. We saw a number of ochre starfish on our kayak trip. The biggest were about 6-7 inches across. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d9d874a8-9011-41b7-a427-75bf4adc9be0/Oregon+Coast--2.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Ochre starfish photo from a free Google download. Next we went whale watching with Whale Research EcoExcursions, LLC in Depoe Bay, Oregon. We went out in 24-foot Zodiac boats to watch 40 foot, 40 ton gray whales. We were toy size for them. We saw whales, but none of them breached for us. Most gray whales summer near Alaska; however, the smart ones cut the trip in half and summer in Depoe Bay where they feed in the kelp beds on small ghost shrimp. The whales are generally found in the first few hundred yards from shore, feeding and doing whale things which includes swimming around aimlessly, blowing mist in the air from their two blow holes, and spreading their bad breath.....it is really stinky. It was a great couple of hours on the water! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1b68e9e8-9c09-4b7b-a453-d88876bb14fa/Oregon+Coast-5952.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Whale watching Zodiac https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/86314a7b-71ea-4dde-8fc2-b60564ac3823/Oregon+Coast-5847.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Gray Whale Fluke https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ccb8a02c-1456-4ce0-8472-49a9651c5fde/Oregon+Coast-5782.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out They show their fluke only when diving deep to feed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/85b27804-de47-4c5a-aab4-e754e305677b/Oregon+Coast-5941.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Seals and sea lions catching some sun. Seals do the "banana", sticking their tails in the air, to warm up after being in the cold water. Several miles inland from Lincoln City, Oregon is a 3-mile hike to Drift Creek Falls. This is a beautiful 75-foot waterfall, reached by walking over a suspension bridge (seen in the upper right of the photo below). Besides the falls the hike includes ferns, mosses, and some big trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1fc87fe1-374c-4f4d-bb2f-f45c67261f0a/Oregon+Coast-6021.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Drift Creek Falls Cape Disappointment in Washington was named by English Captain John Meares, who explored the cape in 1788, but could not locate the Columbia River entrance. After this failure, he named the point Cape Disappointment. All things considered, he was probably lucky not to recognize The Columbia River, because he likely would have tried to enter the river. That may not have worked out so well. Due to constantly shifting sand bars, the Columbia River entrance is considered one of the most hazardous harbor entrances in the world. Since 1792 approximately 2000 ships have foundered or gone down on the Columbia River Bar or nearby. This has led to the Cape Disappointment US Coast Guard Station averaging between 400 and 500 rescues per year, making it the busiest Coast Guard Station in the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/12a17922-a14f-4964-ad6b-04c91f94a821/Oregon+Coast-6095.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Cape Disappointment Lighthouse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/15810140-b5e9-49bf-90e3-36ce5028767a/Oregon+Coast--3.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Mouth of the Columbia River as seen from Cape Disappointment. The straight line is the South Jetty, extending from Oregon. We stayed in Long Beach, Washington for 4 nights. Long Beach is a tourist town located on the 8th longest beach in the world - 28 miles long. The touristy part was nothing special and pretty pricey. The area is blessed with natural beauty, lots of fishing opportunities, hiking, bike trails, and camping. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0782f924-67b6-4146-bac1-af7c401d483f/Oregon+Coast--4.jpg Blog - Oregon and Washington Coast - Make it stand out Long Beach Sunset The Oregon/Washington coast is beautiful and has lots of outdoor activities. However, this is not a swimming beach (unless 58-degree water is your idea of a great swimming hole). From whale watching to kayaking to hiking to fishing it is easy to stay busy and have fun. From a food and drink standpoint, there are tons of great craft brews and delicious seafood. Jane's favorite was the grilled shrimp and cheese sandwich. If you go, don't forget some long-sleeved shirts and long pants for your beach trip. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/redwood-national-and-state-parks monthly 0.5 2026-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7a55d304-c224-4c82-9564-d84563506bf5/Redwood+National+Park-5014.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Big Tree It is difficult to adequately describe the size of an old growth coastal redwood tree and the experience of walking through an old growth forest of these trees. During our visit we saw many trees that are taller than a football field is long. We also saw many trees more than 10 feet in diameter. They are difficult to kill without a chainsaw; thick moist bark protects them from fires, they are not susceptible to insects or disease, and when a tree dies it is common for clones to sprout up from burls around the stump, forming a ring of trees. They also reproduce by seeds from pine cones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6260ace5-1229-4207-8071-311308ac393b/Redwood+National+Park-1.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Half a ring of trees from an old stump, This one has been named "The Cathedral". The tallest of the tall are located in the Tall Trees Grove next to Redwood Creek. These trees can be found 7 miles down a dirt / gravel road and then a 2 mile hike to get to the loop path through the trees. These redwoods were a little different from most of the others we saw. They were obviously taller, but they also did not have the same girth as other massive trees. It seems they put their growth energy into growing tall vs wide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3bda334b-39c4-49af-a94b-00794a6790cd/Redwood+National+Park-5259.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Redwood Creek looking toward the Tall Trees Grove. All the water we've seen in the Pacific northwest is crystal clear. The banana slug is only found in the redwood forests along the Pacific coast. They grow up to 10 inches long and are most often seen, when it is moist, slithering around leaving a slime trail. They like to eat everything in their path, except redwood seeds and saplings. They are also the mascot for the University of Santa Cruz....Go Slugs! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7fd9a2b0-df55-4039-8216-90ca68234d78/Redwood+National+Park-.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Banana Slug There are a lot of species found only in the redwood forest. Redwood Sorrel is another one we saw everywhere we hiked in the old growth forests. One we didn't see is the endangered Marbled Murrelet, a bird that nests in the top of mature trees (older than 200 years) along the west coast, but spends most of its life in the ocean. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8740ce02-297a-48f8-ac8b-b11605a6d0a7/Redwood+National+Park-.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Redwood Sorrel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0a24ed86-c714-4bf2-bac7-cf7acec31deb/Redwood+National+Park--2.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Huge burls and Jane Fern Canyon appeared in one of the Jurassic Park movies. It is about half a mile long, with ferns covering the 50-foot high walls. It is a beautiful, fun hike that at times makes you walk through the creek. It felt good once we got used to the cold water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fac37b46-3c90-41d6-b250-4678a88a83ea/Redwood+National+Park-5078.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Fern Canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8fca21dc-f24c-4cfc-85f1-86eb0a5b876c/Redwood+National+Park-5111.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Trail through the redwoods. The hole through this tree is at least 9 feet high. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b966fbb-fe95-45ad-8040-6ae7a9238e5b/Redwood+National+Park-5169.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Trillium Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dd1592a2-530d-4b59-ba42-fba61e770fb1/Redwood+National+Park-5145.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Mom and baby Roosevelt Elk in our campground. Baby is less than 2 weeks old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f9148327-dc2b-43e6-8cf7-0ef17108c519/Redwood+National+Park-5232.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Bull Elk in Elk Meadow, Prairie Creek State Park. There are miles of beach included in the parks. It was easy for us to find a beach to walk on with few or no people sharing it with us. The California Current is a Pacific Ocean current that moves southward along the western coast of North America, beginning off southern British Columbia and ending off southern Baja California Peninsula. This results in cool temperatures along the northern California coast. We stayed between the ocean and the first mountain for 3 weeks and the high temperature rarely exceeded 70 degrees. A few days never even reached 60 degrees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7ef08b30-9524-44e2-9f87-a182a049aea8/Redwood+National+Park-4973.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out High Bluff Overlook near Klamath https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/66be234a-5c7a-40f0-92e4-a06c7262ea05/Redwood+National+Park-4805.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Harbor Seals playing in Redwood Creek https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d1099f35-2ad2-4a77-9c5f-dd9457cda081/Redwood+National+Park-4913.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Sea Lion swimming in the surf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bf3a4b7a-40ef-413f-9214-606b1785dceb/Redwood+National+Park-5322.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Old growth redwood forest We took a 3-hour kayak trip down the Smith River with a park ranger. Prior to leaving we signed a liability waiver that would make any lawyer proud and scare the crap out of anybody who actually reads it. We didn't drown, break anything, or get sliced up on the (round) rocks; however, we did get soaked and had a great time. During the trip we navigated class 1 and 2 rapids. We have kayaked on lakes for many years, but both the dynamics of kayaking in a fast-flowing river and our first time in a two-person kayak were new to us. During the first rapids the boat in front of us got trapped against a cliff face, and while trying to help them out Joe fell in and finished that rapids feet first body surfing while hanging onto the boat. We continued without any new problems until the final "BIG" rapids. We were told to go to the right to avoid the large standing wave in the middle. The river had other ideas and forced us directly into the standing wave, which hit Jane full in the face. We both stayed in the boat, and after we stopped laughing we finished the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/08c78e14-ead0-4efe-924e-b62dddac32a2/Redwood+National+Park--3.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out Smith River kayak trip lunch break https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b2ba2adf-f800-42d0-8bd0-f0b679461e8a/Redwood+National+Park-4736.jpg Blog - Redwood National and State Parks - Make it stand out We spent a lot of time looking up while in the redwood forest. We spent 3 weeks in the Redwood National Park area - two weeks in the south area and one in the north. This allowed us to hike all of the most popular trails and several less popular ones. It also allowed us to take some days to just hang out at the campground. It was an amazing 3 weeks among the tallest trees on earth and the environment they live in. Crystal clear streams and deserted beaches with redwood driftwood, seals, and sea lions. It isn't simple to get here, but worth the journey. Now off we go to explore the Oregon coast. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/one-year-living-in-our-camper monthly 0.5 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/617e2ee1-faff-4c59-b24c-304463451f4e/Year+1+Travel+Map.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/be51d173-2eea-4e17-9829-bcbadc5c9429/Redwood+National+Park-5322.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out From the Redwood forest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/07ffe78b-d172-4d96-8297-84966085d248/St+Augustine-2053.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out to the Gulf Stream waters, This is Jane's favorite year one place Butler Beach We visited 11 national parks, 5 national monuments, and many more amazing places not in the national park system. Joe’s Favorite Place: Grand Teton National Park. Jane’s Favorite Place: Butler Beach, FL (just south of St. Augustine). We camped for a month 200 ft from this beautiful beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/aaab9970-bfb6-4bb2-8720-cdc22e6ebb1d/Florida+Space+Coast-2187.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out Falcon 9 launch Best dumb luck experience: we ended up near Kennedy Space Center when a Falcon 9 launch occurred. We watched from Cocoa Beach. Favorite Restaurants: Redfrog & McToad’s near St Augustine, FL. They make a fantastic mac 'n' cheese with shrimp and lobster and some of the best ribs Joe’s ever had. Papa Wheelies in McKinleyville, CA doesn’t look like much, but great burgers and a super nice owner/cook. Sunset Grill in St Augustine. Open-air dining near the beach. Pitchfork Steak Fondue in Medora, ND. It's a unique picnic with the steaks cooked on a pitchfork dunked in a 55 gallon drum of a very hot fluid. Favorite Beers: I-10 IPA brewed by Intuition Ale Works, Jacksonville, FL. Midnight Star Black Ale brewed by Bull Falls Brewery, Wausau, WI Pile O’ Dirt Porter brewed by Crow Peak Brewery, Spearfish, SD. Steelhead Extra Pale Ale brewed by Mad River Brewing, Humboldt County, CA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b740316e-33b6-491c-b27d-796dd1a7cd9b/Beartooth+Highway-7079.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out Scenery along Beartooth Highway. Our favorite scenic drive last year. Favorite Drives: Beartooth Highway in Wyoming and Montana. Amazing views along a highway 10,000+ ft in elevation. Highway 199 and 101 in Oregon and California. Smith River views and old growth redwoods alongside the highway. Lots of tight turns and a bit of a white knuckle drive when pulling a 41-ft camper. We would like to include the Blue Ridge Parkway, but we'll have to go back when it isn't too foggy to see it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/31215f74-e2f9-4d3c-b75d-425d36df8115/Minocqua-5452.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out Shishebogama Lake Bald Eagle Best place to see Bald Eagles: Minocqua, WI, where we started and where we lived for 4 years. Best place to see Osprey: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. They are everywhere you look. What we envisioned vs how it actually transpired: We chose to live on wheels so we could escape the snow and always stay warm while seeing the country. Joe had a stated goal of wearing shorts every day for the rest of his life. After leaving Florida, that fantasy fell by the wayside. Jane had an appointment in Wisconsin in March, and we got very cold for several weeks. We even got snowed on a couple of times. In June, the average high temperature at the coast in the Pacific northwest is in the 50s and 60s. And Shaun will graduate Michigan Tech in December 2020. Brrr. Go ahead. Make fun of us for thinking we could get away. We wanted to be able to swim (in a heated pool) almost every day. We haven't had that option since we left Florida. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0803a688-4294-41f1-9aa6-85b3e7413f96/Redwood+National+Park-5111.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out The trails through the Redwoods are among the best we have enjoyed. We thought we would walk at least two miles most days, for better fitness. It has been more sporadic than that - Joe walks pretty regularly, sometimes up to 10 miles, but due to fibromyalgia, some hikes cause Jane to take several days off to rest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/047e054d-5e92-4328-bc6a-cd41acaabedd/Minneapolis-122154318.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out We stopped at the World's Largest Puzzle Store on a moving day once and look what we found. As our destination desires evolve, we can adjust some reservations, but not others. Since we depend on having reserved campsites, we are not as flexible as we originally thought we could be. On "moving days" we thought we could stop spontaneously if we saw a store or attraction that interested us, but since we have a dog and a cat in the truck with us, we tend not to stop until we get to the next campground. Jane wanted to go to the occasional movie in a theater, but due in part to having animals that don't like to be left alone, and in part to camping in relatively remote locations (no theater nearby), we haven't gone to any. What is not so great? Health care. We have insurance with nationwide providers, but when we need health care and are not in St Augustine, FL, we go to Urgent Care and see doctors who don't have access to our health records. Joe had sciatica in Minneapolis and lost an entire week of time with our grandkids and struggled to get appropriate pain relief in a timely manner, in part due to the health care system he went to not knowing anything about him. Jane is having knee pain and hopes to some day (soon) get a replacement. We'll need to plan a stay near Mayo Clinic Jacksonville for awhile to get it done. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/10bbec4a-3d6d-40df-b234-d9a9b4751caf/St+Augustian-1505.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out When we go slower we get to see more things like these snowy egrets doing some kind of snowy egret dance. What are we going to do a little differently? First, slow down - the first year we have acted a lot like we are on vacation, which can get exhausting. Starting in 2020 we aren't going to move as much, in order to really enjoy each place we go. What about the rest of 2019? We are starting to slow down, with 3 weeks in Redwood National Park, 4 weeks in Yosemite National Park, and several other places with two week stays. This helps with the problem of having rain every day we're at a location, so we don't get to do the things we had planned. Also, in most RV parks the longer you stay the less you pay per day, so this makes financial sense. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2e804fb5-47ef-4ca8-83b1-84e8af49111a/Camper-.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out Our home on wheels, grand total 25,000 pounds and 60 ft long. What have we learned: Fuel prices vary dramatically in most towns. Joe uses the app GasBuddy to find the lowest fuel price. We also try not to fill up at truck stops. They cost more than any gas station when buying diesel. When you have a 36 gallon tank and average about 10 mpg, it makes a big difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4d340216-1002-4fd0-8302-8c6e8922016c/Grand+Teton+Moultan+Barn-.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out Grand Teton National Park, Joe's favorite year one place. Lots of other folks love it too so camping reservations are a must for a summer visit. We also learned that reservations made far in advance are needed to stay in well-known destinations during their best seasons. We needed to make reservations one year in advance for January through March in Florida, 6 months or more for Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Olympic, and Mount Rainier National Parks. One reason for the big lead time is that most RV camping sites are not long enough to accommodate us, so we need to reserve early to get one of the few long sites. Another reason is that there are more and more people who enjoy RVing, especially on weekends. Having a place to sleep only 5 days per week doesn't do it for us! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e0724eb7-7512-486d-8d2b-57b238616d61/Dinosauer+NM+-4607.jpg Blog - One Year Living in Our Camper - Make it stand out More amazing places in year 2 So what are we doing in year two? We left Minnesota May 20 on our way to spending most of the rest of the year in California, Washington, and Oregon. Here is our plan: July: Oregon Coast, Mount St Helens, Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood August: Eugene OR, Crater Lake National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Mt Lassen National Park, Lake Tahoe September: Yosemite National Park October: Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Desert, Sedona, AZ November: Petrified Forest National Park, Phoenix, Tucson December: Las Cruces NM, Carlsbad NM, Dallas TX, New Orleans LA, Mobile AL and on to Florida to meet our son Shaun for his Christmas break. If our travel plans bring us close to you, let us know and we'll figure out how to get together. Best thing about our lifestyle: Getting to experience so many places in our country. We learn so much about so many things! Worst thing about our lifestyle: Leaving our friends. While we talk with many people everywhere we go, we have not made any new long term friends. Yet. What's different about living in a house on wheels vs a bricks and sticks house: There is maintenance required for both, just different kinds. With a camper it is about tires, brakes, wheel bearings, and the seals that keep the camper weather tight. And tightening everything that vibrates loose while driving over bumpy roads. But there's no yard work and a lot less square footage to clean and only one bathroom. We still have to pay bills, but there aren't as many. Also, internet and cell service is not reliable. We are never certain if we will have service. What do we do when we aren't hiking or having other outdoor adventures: We read, work jigsaw puzzles, cross-stitch, edit and organize photos, write the blog, other computer browsing (including paying bills), watch TV, clean the camper, do laundry, and camper maintenance. The traveling lifestyle isn't for everybody, but we wouldn't trade it for anything else. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/oregon-caves-national-monument monthly 0.5 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f9743a4b-dad9-4c69-a232-cad274cf7607/Oregon+Caves+NM+-4699.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out View from Cliff Nature Trail The cave has many different formations. It also has low ceilings, narrow walkways, and 500+ stairs to go up and down. So if you go be ready to walk bent over for a bit and sideways for awhile, and then lots of uneven steps, with the pay-off being some great cave scenery. This cave is similar to, but also completely different from, all the others we've been to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d7267c54-ea86-4317-8e13-9994a3148627/Oregon+Caves-4662.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out Column, Stalactites, and Stalagmites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a0463e4d-5964-48eb-9801-a129052acfc2/Oregon+Caves-4667.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out Cave Drapery is a bit different than home drapery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ce2666aa-c48d-4ebb-9122-4741d9f2dd54/Oregon+Caves-4676.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out Cave Bacon Cave bacon is one of the most awesome cave formations that we see. We have seen it in several caves in the national park system, the most spectacular being Jewel Cave in South Dakota. It is the result of the deposition of water-borne minerals traveling over the same route for millennia. Variations in rainfall, mineral content, and other environmental factors change the speed and mineral content of the water, which is what causes the delicious-looking bacon effect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fb1c218a-83ce-4db9-9c1a-2a91d99fe54d/Oregon+Caves-4671.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out Cross section of a stalagmite. Stalagmites and stalactites have growth rings. The width and color of the rings are related to the climate outside the cave. When it is warmer and wetter they grow faster (and lighter in color), and when it is colder and drier they grow more slowly (and darker). Unlike trees, you cannot get age very accurately from these rings. This cave has a River Styx; we learned that all cave rivers are named River Styx, which has to do with a connection to the underworld. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/81b4fef4-7fb6-41d2-bbd2-fb6a1897bde4/Oregon+Caves-4677.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out The angel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/90595755-2d08-49bd-8371-3d7549a8de1d/Oregon+Caves-4689.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out Oregon Cave step The cave steps are carved out of the marble rock in the cave. Lots of shoes have polished the marble, causing it to look more like the sinks and counter tops we are used to seeing, rather than the plain brown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/47f6a668-7905-4e73-aab0-793d8294fd16/Oregon+Caves-4713.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out California Rhododendron found on the Old Growth Trail https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0c74e7e0-e3ff-4858-8214-e8ff98a32764/Oregon+Caves-4706.jpg Blog - Oregon Caves National Monument - Make it stand out Small caves along Cliff Nature Trail. They do not connect to the main cave. Oregon Caves is a great park. The cave tour was fun and we still had enough energy to hike the Cliff Nature Trail and Old Growth Trail. Old growth forests are unusual for us and we really learned a lot about how they are different from second growth forests. The trees are many different species and ages. Some are fully mature and huge, and the others are all sizes in between. Old growth forests also have lots of large downed trees that provide a home for ferns, young trees, and lots of forest critters. As in most of the places we've visited, we left so many adventures unexplored, and would like to return some day to experience more of it. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/dinosaur-national-monument-and-southern-wyoming monthly 0.5 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9d505cfb-cf6e-4501-bf2e-1efc434bd8f9/Dinosauer+NM+-4371.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out BLM land near Baggs, WY After dinner in Baggs, we drove a few miles north and east to explore Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. This land is owned by the federal government and is managed for a variety of purposes. All citizens can enjoy it, through hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, or just taking a drive as we did. We saw pronghorn antelope, mule deer, friendly domestic horses, and beautiful scenery. We didn't see any other people; however, we did pass one occupied campsite with a couple of 4-wheelers and a satellite dish. This was our first foray onto BLM land and it won't be our last. When we are out west, where 99% of the BLM land is located, we plan to start exploring more of it. It is uncrowded, easily accessed, and most of it is quite beautiful! Some day we'll boondock on BLM land. You can stay for 14 days at no charge in most places! What is boondocking? Completely self-contained camping. We take our own fresh water, keep used water in tanks until we can get to a dump station, and electricity can be supplied by generator (we don't have one - yet). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6768b0cf-5031-443c-b9b6-24aa7c923b18/Dinosauer+NM+-4556.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Split Mountain near the Quarry Exhibit Hall Dinosaur National Monument is a two-part park. The more visited part is where the dinosaur fossils are found. It is a small part of the park, near Jensen, UT. The highlight is Quarry Exhibit Hall, built around a cliff that has more than 1500 fossils still embedded in it, for people to look at and touch. After seeing the fossils in the cliff it amazes me how paleontologists are able to remove the fossils without damaging them. These fossils came from an ancient river bed that dried up, causing many animals to die of dehydration. Then it flooded and a bunch more died from drowning. Those poor beasts couldn't win for losing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5c387955-b139-450a-9ee0-1b897d7529a9/Dinosauer+NM+-4402.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Dinosaur leg and foot on the left and skull with vertebrae on the upper right https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b24ac90f-2e43-4c9f-9162-903d41415d98/Dinosauer+NM+-4398.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Piled up dinosaur fossils The other and larger part of the monument is all about the local terrain. The vast majority of visitors go to the Quarry Exhibit Hall and then leave. They have missed a wonderland of tall mountains, deep canyons, fast-flowing rivers, ancient Fremont petroglyphs, and amazing vistas. On day one of hiking we drove Cub Creek Road to the Josie Morris cabin. Josie was a single mom who lived alone on a hog-and-cattle ranch at the end of the road until 1964 when she died at age 90. She was an incredibly self-sufficient woman who built her own cabin and provided her own food for most of her life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/22549a75-824a-43d8-95a0-bed1783234fd/Dinosauer+NM+-4508.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Josie Morris Cabin The Fremont people inhabited this region approximately 1000-400 years ago. They left many petroglyphs throughout the park. We stopped several times on the way to Josie's ranch to see the petroglyphs. Many of them are out of reach today. At the time they were created the land was high enough for the artist to stand and create their art. Subsequent erosion, sometimes as much as 35 feet, has left their art high on the cliff walls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/624e7e7a-241e-4fc0-ad3b-1d0e79ba646b/Dinosauer+NM+-4495.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Lizard Petroglyph https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6e98f714-0934-49b4-aecd-d0bed8890b8f/Dinosauer+NM+-4502.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Important Person Petroglyph - notice the breast plate Box Canyon and Hog Canyon, located near Josie's cabin, were pleasant and easy walks. They gave us terrific views from inside the box canyons and a nice walk along a small spring-fed creek. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6e0333a9-c80e-4e9f-9884-cc29ca0e94be/Dinosauer+NM+-4536.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Box Canyon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a9937c73-6b3f-4cc4-9950-da21c44ee94b/Dinosauer+NM+-4579.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Steamboat Rock in Echo Park Harpers Corner Road is 31 miles long and is quite scenic. Towards the end is a dirt road to Echo Park. We drove 12 miles one way in 4WD to hike along the river in this picture. The drive drops most of the 2500 feet in the first 3 miles! Steamboat Rock is at the end of the drive. We walked along the Green River and enjoyed the absolute quiet (except for birds and insects). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/74f1415a-116d-4021-8461-933c9d2b8a7f/Dinosauer+NM+-4607.jpg Blog - Dinosaur National Monument and Southern Wyoming - Make it stand out Echo Park Overlook After that hike we drove back up the mountain and hiked 2 miles to see Echo Park from above. It is a vertical drop of almost 2500 feet from the overlook to the river area. The second hike was at more than 7500 ft elevation. There is not a lot of air to breathe at 7500 ft when you are hiking uphill. We did not have time to get used to the elevation change from Minneapolis to Dinosaur NM. We went to Dinosaur National Monument expecting to see dinosaur fossils. That part was informative and fun. We did not expect the magnificent canyons and mountains. If we get nearby again we will go back and finish up more of the hikes and scenery we didn't get to experience. We both really enjoy hikes in the high desert. Each one is a new experience for us. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/chicago-area monthly 0.5 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ad46d795-ee4a-4812-865d-c13a433c27bd/Chicago-4147.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Chicago skyline as seen from Adler Planetarium area. While in the city we spent our time at the Field Museum of Natural History. The Field Museum is huge, one of the largest museums in the world, and incredible. Its collections include flora and fauna from around the world, fossils, gems, meteorites, and cultural artifacts representing many cultures and civilizations. We spent two days in the museum and still didn't see every exhibit. The number and variety of dinosaur skeletons on display was amazing. Big ones, tall ones, fat ones, small ones! Seriously, seeing them in person gives a sense of scale unavailable via photos or kids toys. There were two traveling exhibits we enjoyed - Mummies and Photographer of the Year. Due to the nature of these exhibits, only a little bit of each was allowed to be photographed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b23d0710-9729-4279-bad4-c41791148221/Chicago-4167.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Dinosaur Pole Dancing (Giant sloth) Sue is the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. It was found in 1990 in South Dakota and named after the woman who discovered it. It is not known if Sue is a boy or girl. What a fearsome beast with such tiny arms! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/563dfc77-02e9-431e-966d-36deb703f14a/Chicago-4164.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Sue We found the mummy exhibit fascinating. Egypt is most famous for its mummies, however, cultures in Asia and South America also left mummies behind. What they all have in common is a dry climate. Today mummies are studied via CT scans and no longer unwrapped. The museum treats the mummies with much respect and do not allow any photographs of the actual mummies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/82f15b0a-e220-4204-8180-7266c1706914/Chicago-4174.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Egyptian Mummy Enclosure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4a19d3ce-f815-415e-abdf-0a73988b8f93/Chicago-.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out The totem exhibit really made me think. They were huge - many were made from logs 4 or 5 feet in diameter and up to 30 feet tall! How did people hundreds of years ago move them into place? These totems were extremely important to the native cultures. They spent untold man years of precious time to craft them. Time not spent hunting and gathering to feed the community. We also visited our nation's newest National Park, Indiana Dunes, on three different days. The national park and the dunes state park work very closely together and share a visitor center. The park is located where 3 different eco-systems intersect, resulting in one of our most biologically rich parks. On our first visit we completed the 3 Dune Challenge, which involved climbing the 3 tallest sand dunes in the park. The hike was a little less than 2 miles with a 540 foot elevation gain, all through loose sand. It was a lot of work, but very satisfying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/67262f1a-e3a6-4388-b642-b3ce15b7741a/Indiana+Dunes-4130.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Top of Mt Jackson, a 176-foot climb in loose sand and the first of the 3 dunes. We had just come up the trail that disappears in the picture above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cd66f5de-75ab-4567-8a6b-f8000c0ab4fb/Indiana+Dunes-4135.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Mt Holden is 184 feet up loose sand at a 38 degree angle! The view of Lake Michigan was awesome and worth the climb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/10faf48c-5865-49b1-8964-6e09418f957d/Indiana+Dunes--4.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Cabbage White butterfly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0e9bd19e-a3c7-495e-9cd4-b90671daf361/Indiana+Dunes--5.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Red Admiral On our second and third trips to the national park we explored the forests and enjoyed the early spring wildflowers. One trip was a guided wildflower hike led by one of the parks rangers. We recommend if you visit a national park that you look into the free guided hikes, kayak trips, and other excursions led by our park rangers. They are fun and informative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2452c578-6d0c-49d4-b407-55de185adccd/Indiana+Dunes-4228.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Red Trillium https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/44712b7c-196e-4d3f-948e-437a8f39a376/Indiana+Dunes-.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Trout Lily https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/afa905c7-0933-407b-8d1b-daaee087ebae/Indiana+Dunes--3.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Dutchman's Breeches We also caught up with my classmate Mike Mitchell and his wife Lori. We enjoyed lunch at Lou Malnati's Pizza and really enjoyed catching up with each other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/49b3e8d8-9c8f-43e0-b4ec-49553fcea6ed/Indiana+Dunes--2.jpg Blog - Chicago Area - Make it stand out Chicago is a great city to visit. So much to do from the zoo, museums, shows, shopping, food, sight seeing, urban wilderness and more. We enjoyed our week in Chicago and will stop again in the future. Next time maybe the Museum of Science and Industry. And yes, you can visit Chicago and camp while doing it! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/mammoth-caves monthly 0.5 2026-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7617e7c8-0c00-46a3-a8aa-8a8e655e6061/Mammoth+Cave-4018.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Mammoth Cave Historic Entrance The cave is the longest in the world at over 400 miles, with more being discovered each year. We took the Domes and Dripstones Tour. It is a 2 hour tour that covers 3/4 of a mile, 500 steps, and several places where you need to scoot through sideways or duck. It was a lot of fun! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5d1477a3-75ca-4f4c-a17a-5a73b8514fe1/Mammoth+Cave-4012.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Frozen Niagara in Mammoth Cave I joined a park ranger-led birding hike one morning. We saw all of the birds below and many more that were pretty camera shy. I was amazed at how quickly and easily the park ranger identified so many birds. I still need to do Google searches to identify almost all of the birds I see. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/857f073a-2a9c-4b9c-8ebb-91e7f32fed21/Mammoth+Cave-3973.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Red Headed Woodpecker https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/38e6e72c-01bb-4692-b883-265bf34a0209/Mammoth+Cave-3877.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Brown Thrasher https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/70187f7e-a65c-4bbd-a858-239730052f02/Mammoth+Cave-3956.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Pair of cowbirds The wildflowers below were found along the path to the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/985a47a6-3df2-4c62-9e75-1e17b250204d/Mammoth+Cave-4023.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Spring Beauty https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ae5f825b-d2d0-4b27-8beb-02f1fa1519d1/Mammoth+Cave-.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Blue Phlox Lost River Cave is in nearby Bowling Green. The tour into the cave is by boat. The cave is at the end of a deep valley, and it routinely floods during heavy rains. There are several "blue holes" where the Lost River makes an above ground appearance and the water can be a beautiful blue if it hasn't rained for awhile. These blue holes are very dangerous as the current is swift and will drag a swimmer (or as legend has it, a horse and wagon) down and trap them under an overhang about 4 feet down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bbbe7e65-b333-4a39-a5c9-627c583af5e9/Mammoth+Cave-4039.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out Lost Cave https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8d4e770a-f5c7-4651-9bc8-0c6efb3a7ec9/Mammoth+Cave--2.jpg Blog - Mammoth Caves - Make it stand out While traveling through Nashville we stopped and enjoyed an evening with Joe's cousin Jeff Burriss and his wife Roma. We had a great time in the Mammoth Cave area. Having grown up in West Virginia the terrain, flora, and fauna were all very familiar and felt like home. We were there a week or two early to really hit the spring peak of wildflowers, but it was still beautiful. We look forward to returning and experiencing a lot more of the area. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/florida-wrap-up monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/aa6ac31d-b3c1-4c8c-a494-db79cefa84fd/Florida-3368.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out A manatee swimming at Blue Spring State Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8b247fa3-5571-4be0-a820-9e3f3954c1d1/Florida-3309.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Cormorant drying its wings Blue Spring State Park. We stayed a few days in Punta Gorda and enjoyed a kayak trip on Shell Creek. It is a large creek with little development along its banks. It has a lot of birds, turtles, and some alligators. We learned that Jane can kayak faster than Joe when an alligator jumps into the water near her! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/be5c4d54-217a-45de-a7d9-af2b989c3da6/Florida-3734.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Shell Creek https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0de9d489-a4cb-4389-ad93-82a21c92550f/Florida-14.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Turtle sunning itself along Shell Creek. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dd0be9d2-a226-4ece-bb7a-9d9430175c76/Florida-13.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Blue Heron along Shell Creek. Also while in Punta Gorda we went to Lovers Key State Park. While kayaking in the mangroves we saw manatees, dolphins, and lots of birds. The beach there is beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1d1efe06-d438-4575-aefb-2c4d920694e5/Florida-36.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Kayaking Lovers Key https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2ad6636d-1c7b-4f7e-becc-08b1101761f2/Florida-.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Lovers Key Beach. A great place to find shells. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a7947952-5e56-45cf-8863-81cae8dd6dd9/Florida-59.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Snowy Egret Fishing Lovers Key. Hillsborough State Park near Tampa is another great place for hiking and seeing wildlife. Kayaking is available, but we ran out of time for a trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4b0516b7-bcc5-4ebf-9d78-4cb9f94ac912/Florida-3707.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Alligator warming up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4ea85396-b0a9-4973-8bed-9fe3bbac6cf6/Florida-3696.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Local lizard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dce8ea03-e015-4326-83f8-7ca598226309/Florida-3725.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Another local lizard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8b5520e9-4cc3-4f08-b0bf-3b2ef13eecc8/Florida-3703.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Zephyrlily found in Zehpyrhills. Next up on our way to Destin, we drove through Mexico Beach where Hurricane Michael roared ashore as a category 5 storm in fall of 2018. The significant damage stretched for approximately 50 miles along the coast. These pictures are 5 months after the storm and show that debris removal is still in progress. From what we saw it will be many years before this area recovers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1496b33a-addb-4a00-b56c-5889e4123cb6/Florida-1.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Devastation in Mexico Beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/65a8c3ab-f918-4ad1-a6c8-fa47a0424707/Florida-1.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out More devastation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6e7b9a07-3fbd-4ae2-932b-bdf6626470d7/Florida-3.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out This went on for many, many miles. Last stop on our Florida tour was Destin, where we stayed at Camp Gulf on the beach. Destin's beach and water are gorgeous. March is a little cool for swimming in the gulf, but we enjoyed walking on the beach and the surrounding area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/99a16d6f-43fe-42c7-8984-89f3b27f5a69/Florida--3.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Destin Beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/32554dae-ea49-4e8d-b9d1-4496893eb541/Florida--2.jpg Blog - Florida Wrap-up - Make it stand out Sunset at Destin Beach I'll close with a few of our favorites: Favorite beach - Butler Beach just south of St Augustine Favorite restaurant - Red Frog & McToads in Butler Beach - great shrimp 'n' lobster mac 'n' cheese. Most awesome experience - Tie: Watching a Falcon 9 rocket launch and first stage landing, and kayaking with bottle-nose dolphins. Sight that will never leave us - Mexico Beach and the damage from Hurricane Michael Best Kayaking - Indian River Lagoon in Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve, and any place with mangroves https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/key-largo monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5dbc9447-0daf-4d27-afd0-67f0a9edd8e8/Key+Largo-.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out Manatee hanging out in a Key Largo canal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d14beee1-696e-4a40-82ea-368374302883/Key+Largo-3512.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out Mangrove tunnel in Everglades National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/56d7d158-2097-4e8d-986e-ed73dfa1824e/Key+Largo-3607.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out White pelican. These guys have a 9 ft wingspan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0bc20761-2028-468c-9715-c7b1d9591ef1/Key+Largo--2.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out We really enjoyed kayaking in the mangroves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/82669086-682d-4af6-befa-544dea13a559/Key+Largo-3686.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out Baby nurse shark hanging around a dock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/23621975-7e9c-4ab5-9175-4f66f04a6fdf/Key+Largo-3474.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out Fossilized corals along the Key Largo canal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3c7814bf-75f5-46a2-b0a2-fceee57e1fbf/Key+Largo-3461.jpg Blog - Key Largo - Make it stand out Sunset over Florida Bay. With all of the rain, we didn't get to adequately explore either Biscayne Bay or Everglades National Park. We'll be back. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/orlando-area monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7eb4f355-56c2-474a-8489-ee203b18eda6/Orlando-2965.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out The first park we went to was the Magic Kingdom. We enjoyed several rides including Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and It's a Small World. Splash Mountain and Buzz Lightyear were our favorites. The rides include lots of opportunities to get a Disney song stuck in your head and have a lot of fun. We had a great day in the Magic Kingdom and I stayed to enjoy the fireworks as the park closed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2326ad08-28be-4cd1-b885-7af78a79f5fa/Orlando-3183.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Spaceship Earth Next stop was Epcot Center. We rode Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, Journey into the Imagination with Figment, Soaring Around the World, and the GM Test Track. We also strolled around World Showcase enjoying all of the various countries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ecc9a24e-f762-4e0b-b9ba-ec7d69a6113f/Orlando-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Hollywood Studios Indiana Jones At Hollywood Studios we enjoyed the Indiana Jones stunt show, a 3D Star Wars ride, and several rides in the Toy Story section of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a719d80a-93ec-498e-a009-9e2d83851478/Orlando+Animal+Kingdom-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Avatar section of Animal Kingdom We really enjoyed our day in Animal Kingdom. It was a great combination of exciting rides and live animals. The 4D movie It's a Bugs Life was great, especially when we felt the bugs running behind us on the seat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ed07a701-90b9-486d-8286-0881e8a867fb/Orlando+Harry+Potter-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Universal Studios - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This was the most intense ride for us, bar none. We really got thrown around and the special effects were awesome including the dragon snot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5058ab80-635b-4b56-8ab2-a170887d2cf8/Orlando+Harry+Potter+Train-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Harry Potter Kings Cross Station takes you between the two Universal Studios parks. We didn't ride this one because we hadn't purchase the multi-park tickets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e035033c-937f-48f5-8fce-816a4e5a07a4/Orlando+Transformer-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Transformer Bumble Bee hanging out for pictures. We enjoyed the Transformers ride - it was intense with lots of narrow escapes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/40392004-0786-4bae-b9b1-4eb0326efd32/Orlando+Bilge+Rat+Barges-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges is a great ride if you want to get completely soaked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/220a6f90-6bbd-4b90-a8f7-25018445f6e6/Orlando+Suess+Land-.jpg Blog - Orlando Area - Make it stand out Universal Studios Seuss Land. Very whimsical and colorful. This is a great part of the park for younger kids. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/we-bought-a-new-camper-and-truck monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/efa5b6ab-1deb-4127-9e2e-b568a062a32c/Solitude-.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Dinner break in Miami, FL Our big hang-up was the truck. We had a great Chevy Silverado 2500HD, but its payload capacity was far too low for any of the fifth wheels we considered. We upgraded to a brown 2019 Chevy Silverado High Country 3500HD dually diesel. The first camper weighed 9600 pounds full; our new one weighs 16,800 pounds full. Our first camper had a hitch weight of 950 pounds and our new one has a pin weight of 2750 pounds. We needed the new truck. It came with a sunroof that we use all the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a76de93b-e6e8-4999-a140-f4d6fa882970/Solitude-102318.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Floorplan Below are a few pictures inside the new camper. I copied most of these pictures from the Grand Design website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/14fae872-3be2-4bcb-b25c-43486f72e5e1/Solitude--2.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Kitchen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b6c333d-1937-47e0-ada1-1c5749f0eafb/Solitude--3.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Bedroom - the stacked washer and dryer are behind the closed door. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a1545bc7-b327-4354-bd98-f222164a741e/Solitude-1.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Jane's craft room. We replaced the couch with a sewing table. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c6bb1f74-519c-4b6c-9e23-d4339111a1c2/Solitude--4.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Bathroom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3e632537-7506-4467-865c-c78f2af26c9c/Solitude-194720170.jpg Blog - We Bought a New Camper and Truck - Make it stand out Grandkid Loft Bed https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/florida-space-coast monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7e30f16a-2406-4951-b602-256ff39991be/Florida+Space+Coast-2187.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out We watched the lift-off about 16 miles from the launch pad. It took a while for the sound to reach us, but it is an amazing thing to watch and we recommend it to everybody. Just beware, they do not always launch on time or even on the same day as scheduled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c01155d4-affa-48c8-a891-7fbb8a7654b8/Florida+Space+Coast-2262.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out Several minutes after the launch, the first stage's return to earth was heralded with 3 sonic booms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/91b0059b-dce3-4f7b-b625-77c18c118f43/Florida+Space+Coast--2.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out Unfortunately, this one was not a perfect landing, as the vehicle missed the pad and landed in the ocean. From our vantage point it was impossible to tell. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bfe81ade-6891-4e6c-80da-e21fdbf893e9/Florida+Space+Coast-2385.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out We also toured the Kennedy Space Center. Above is the space shuttle Atlantis. A whole building is devoted to the shuttle and what the program accomplished for our nation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/224c8847-e7c3-4870-8f29-0f69c09bd338/Florida+Space+Coast-2402.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out This is the Saturn V rocket. It is massive! It was used to send astronauts to the moon. When thinking about the design team that designed and built the Apollo program we are amazed at how much they accomplished with the tools they had. Today, your cell phone has more computer power than all of NASA back in 1969 when it sent two astronauts to the moon. Those machines could perform a couple hundred thousand addition operations per second, with their total memory capacity in the megabyte range. As for the Apollo Guidance Computer, it was a machine that had 64 kilobytes of memory and operated at 0.043MHz. However, that computer had one huge advantage over our smart phones and Windows computers. It did not freeze up and have to be continually restarted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b1d7c65-a110-432d-8151-eaf28321a5d6/Florida+Space+Coast-.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is located partially within the boundaries of the Kennedy Space Center and just north of it. We explored the area just north of the Space Center by driving a 7 mile loop road to see birds, and by kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon. The wildlife refuge has more than 300 species of birds, but we didn't see quite that many. Above is a Great Blue Heron taking flight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eb8c9e59-fc44-4caf-8d11-db25fc5bbb69/Florida+Space+Coast-2505.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out A flock of Wood Storks flying over us. While kayaking in Indian River Lagoon, we had "up close and personal" experiences with a spotted ray and several feeding bottle nose dolphins. Feeding dolphins are incredibly fast and can turn on a dime. It was amazing to watch from as close as 10 feet away. No pictures from the kayak ride; I don't have the courage to take my good camera with me in the kayak. After this experience, though, I did decide that next time I'll take my old camera for on-the-water photos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d0a978b1-b4c2-46f5-a370-c4af99253491/Florida+Space+Coast-2640.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out We toured Daytona International Speedway. No photo can capture the immensity of this racing venue. We were told 250,000 people watch the Daytona 500 each year, from the stands and the infield, a mind-boggling crowd. The turns are banked at 31 degrees, which is definitely steeper than we would be comfortable driving our truck on. We rode on the race track past the finish line at a mild 9 degree bank and all slid to the bottom of the bench seat (in a tourist tram). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cf61f1a7-eb6e-4ee2-918f-3d65fac5c39e/Florida+Space+Coast-2643.jpg Blog - Florida Space Coast - Make it stand out Here is 2018's winning car. When they said it was in the same condition as it was when it left Victory Lane, they meant it -- notice the confetti still stuck to the car! We had a great time in Cocoa; from spaceships to race cars to wildlife there is lots to do. However, we were not able to camp on the beach and really missed having a beach for regular walks. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/st-augustine-fl monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/976baf36-0cb4-4ab8-a140-7de939fc910c/St+Augustine-.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Our beach was also a great place to watch the sun rise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e00cb42e-6179-4279-9e63-28d68db9a804/St+Augustine-2053.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out The sunrises were so good I'll put two of them in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/07de5ab9-b2f8-4d4d-a726-33bb00afc806/St+Augustine-1464.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Snowy egrets did some serious fishing and also would fight over the catch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/79b36ab0-c0b7-41d2-a109-25de6613eeba/St+Augustine-1400.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Snowy egret coming in for a landing on a bad hair day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0d1ea981-3a77-41cd-a043-67aef132de23/St+Augustine-2.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Ospreys also got in on the fishing action. I learned it is really difficult to follow an osprey with my camera as it dives into the water to catch a fish! This one just caught a fish and is pulling it out of the water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/142dffc1-6c9f-4ec3-bc40-f5ece397278f/St+Augustine-1644.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Brown Pelicans were a common sight cruising along the water's edge looking for a meal. Their populations have dramatically recovered since the pesticide DDT was banned, and in 2009 Brown Pelicans were removed from the Endangered Species List. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6dd986ea-dbb8-4654-82d3-0f9de5378c05/St+Augustine-1825.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Construction of Castillo de San Marcos began in 1672 and was completed in 1695. It was in service and repeatedly updated, first for Spain, then England, and finally the United States, until 1933. It was built of coquina stone quarried from islands offshore of St Augustine. Coquina is a sedimentary rock composed of fragments of small seashells and invertebrates. It worked great for a fort of this era because coquina is capable of absorbing the force of canon balls without breaking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c28c8d0c-5b6c-4bd2-8f27-8ac819b3545c/St+Augustine-1836.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Sleeping quarters were pretty rough. Two soldiers shared each bed, which was a straw mattress complete with fleas and various other critters, to ensure a lousy night's sleep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/115c8648-1472-4e37-bff1-e2175e80c2b2/St+Augustine-2000.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve is located along the coast between St Augustine and Jacksonville. It is all forest and estuaries. We went for a hike looking for birds. We saw some pelicans and Ospreys, but not along our hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/aab4b7a0-2f97-4c23-81a4-8bc8613e2458/St+Augustine-1973.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Along our hike we did find a Peninsula Ribbon Snake rather than the birds we were after. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/dfe4dba8-b594-475c-80d7-f21d173e52ad/St+Augustine-2033.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out One of the prominent local landmarks is the Bridge of Lions over the Matanzas River, named for the two lions at each end of the bridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/805bfea6-0ccc-4a61-a4fa-5d61773d656d/St+Augustine--2.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Florida Christmas Tree? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a9f4dfce-44e8-4c61-af12-f4363ace8122/St+Augustine-2027.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out Nights of Lights is an annual event in St Augustine where the Historical District is decorated with white lights from Thanksgiving week through the end of January. It adds a festive air to the area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a2e3c82c-0393-42a5-bc6e-006fd814203b/St+Augustine-2036.jpg Blog - St Augustine, FL - Make it stand out One of the restaurants near the waterfront during Nights of Lights. St Augustine was a lot of fun. We visited with my cousin Susan Stiles, her family, and her mom, my Aunt Audrey. We also had dinner with Joe and Sandy Burghardt (friends from our West Virginia days) and caught up on several decades of life. I haven't written much about visiting friends and relatives and am going to do more of that. We enjoy visiting with folks with whom we have shared parts of our lives and look forward to doing more of it. As we were driving from Charleston, SC to St Augustine, we found out Jane's mom was having a medical emergency and Jane was needed in Spartanburg. We were able to stop in Brunswick, GA and rent a car for Jane. She returned to Spartanburg where she stayed a week before joining me and the critters in St Augustine. Jane's mom is now doing well. St Augustine was our favorite food town. The grilled seafood at the Sunset Grill on A1A Beach Boulevard was outstanding! Redfrog & McToad's Grub-n-Pub on A1A South has a lobster & shrimp mac & cheese dish that's to die for! There are plenty of other great places to eat in the area, too. While in St Augustine we also completed the process of becoming Florida residents. Florida title, registration, and insurance for our camper and truck, Florida driver licenses, health insurance, and voter registration. This took a number of days, but is now done, with only a minimum of blood, sweat, and tears. We also had to complete a few repairs on our camper. When you move your house a lot and constantly bounce down the road things break and you have to fix them. We had a fun and productive month in St Augustine. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/charleston-sc monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/81ed4a5e-0904-48b4-a4f7-36c789cbce8f/Charleston+SC-.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out One of the many old houses in the historic district. There are blocks and blocks of similar houses in Charleston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b9a97b3-d797-4151-95df-7136be34d75f/Charleston+SC-0485.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, one of the landmarks in Charleston, is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0dc3b606-cb04-4e4b-9dac-e86554d47258/Charleston+SC--2.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out Pineapple Fountain is a focal point of the Charleston Waterfront Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8ca2fecf-63d3-4fdf-8724-540e7b905ac4/Charleston+SC-0494.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out Another fountain in Waterfront Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3322a56a-cd12-4d90-a3b2-3d6787829fc3/Charleston+SC--3.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out Folly Beach as seen from the pier looking toward Charleston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5dcac1ac-0a70-4e3a-b405-ac4ffefd69f4/Charleston+SC--4.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out This pelican was the most aggressive beggar we found on the Folly Beach pier. This guy really got up close the with fishermen on the pier, trying to steal their bait and succeeding to a large degree. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/57ebe3b8-0465-4699-b657-4d019a54f0c9/Charleston+SC--6.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out A Roseate Spoonbill (pinkish bird) that found its way from Florida to South Carolina. It is very unusual for them to be this far north and their arrival was being promoted by Caw Caw Nature Center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9e2a6845-799f-4334-ae35-913b79f321fb/Charleston+SC--5.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out I think this is a black snake. It was resting along the side of the path I was hiking. FYI - I used a telephoto lens to take this picture and was more than 10 feet away from the snake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/30b22d92-f78e-4843-b3a8-bbcc8c45835b/Charleston+SC-0599.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out Just down the path from the snake, I found this alligator sunning itself along the bank of a small stream. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ba2ddc4f-06b0-49f3-9eee-8236753a7e4a/Charleston+SC-0465.jpg Blog - Charleston, SC - Make it stand out The Angel Tree is huge, an amazing sight. We had a great time in Charleston, SC. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/congaree-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b679a2f9-10ef-4c96-a189-30ca3c99453c/Congaree+NP-.jpg Blog - Congaree National Park - Make it stand out Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers flood the bottomland several times each year and nourish this unique ecosystem. Forested wetlands, oxbow lakes, slow-moving creeks, and sloughs provide habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and other aquatic life. Our favorite trees were the bald cypress, tupelo, and loblolly pine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ce98ea91-9ed2-4a41-a8a3-dec570a289d0/Congaree+NP-0352.jpg Blog - Congaree National Park - Make it stand out My magic trick.....suspended leaf without a spider web. I really didn't see anything holding it up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1f7a995b-4793-48ea-9c14-639978439511/Congaree+NP-0346.jpg Blog - Congaree National Park - Make it stand out The Congaree NP canopy averages 130 ft in height, with individual trees as tall as 170 ft. It is one of the the highest deciduous forest canopies in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7478ccf9-f4b5-4a79-ae50-7ed78ade0964/Congaree+NP-0337.jpg Blog - Congaree National Park - Make it stand out Bald Cypress Trees. The small pointy things are called "knees" and are part of the bald cypress root system. Scientists aren't sure what they do. Two theories are that they provide air to the roots during the frequent floods and/or enhance the trees' stability in the soggy soil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6515d23a-4cb3-4b83-b3b8-8d082dcb8c5d/Congaree+NP-0449.jpg Blog - Congaree National Park - Make it stand out Cedar Creek winds through the park and is visible from the most popular trails. While hiking the Oakridge Trail I encountered wild hogs, wild turkeys, fox squirrels, and numerous grey squirrels. I wasn't able to get any pictures of the wildlife, except the grey squirrels. For all of the others I just saw their backsides heading away from me. Congaree is a fun park to visit and an ecosystem we had never seen before. Next time we hope to be able to kayak into part of the park. Storm damage from Florence and Michael was still being cleaned up when we were there, making a kayak trip too risky. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/blue-ridge-parkway monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/84c8fb71-95a0-4ef6-879a-33f55516df0a/Blue+Ridge+Parkway+Fog.jpg Blog - Blue Ridge Parkway - Make it stand out Bummer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f136be32-04c6-4f35-8fc0-e8f3c3b2c806/Blue+Ridge+Parkway-0256.jpg Blog - Blue Ridge Parkway - Make it stand out We drove onward and had a short break in the fog when we got to Linville Falls. It is a nice hike, not too long or strenuous, just a good break from driving. Of course the falls are beautiful. A bonus is we were able to take Spirit with us on the hike as it is dog friendly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/39ae1267-ee28-41df-b52e-47fa1eff8ee6/Blue+Ridge+Parkway-0261.jpg Blog - Blue Ridge Parkway - Make it stand out A view of an unidentified valley as we ascended Mount Mitchell. As you can see, the cloud cover was still very low. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/69c0fac6-dff0-4a91-936b-abde02d38a65/Blue+Ridge+Parkway-0266.jpg Blog - Blue Ridge Parkway - Make it stand out We made it to the top of Mount Mitchell in spite of the fog. It was 60 degrees and the wind was howling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0a5e51be-f16f-4618-91e6-2dccc5a719d6/Blue+Ridge+Parkway+-Mt+Mitchell+Fog.jpg Blog - Blue Ridge Parkway - Make it stand out Dinner at the restaurant on Mount Mitchell. The peach cobbler is great! As you can see, the fog lasted ALL DAY. We typically plan our travel for daylight hours and rarely fail to complete setup in our new campground before dark. On this day we were still on the Blue Ridge Parkway when darkness fell, because of the need to drive so slowly in the fog. Our stay in Asheville was marred by rain, including a minor brush with then tropical storm Michael. Bad weather was the story for our time in western North Carolina. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/west-virginia monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7aa62763-7a9d-4a64-9c80-2497b6f5e619/West+Virginia-.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out The mill at Babcock State Park. This mill is an iconic West Virginia image. The entire park is beautiful and well worth visiting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9a0e6b71-1b5c-4dfe-90f7-2585e8d007df/West+Virginia-0185.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out The creek below the mill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0fede725-de55-4523-9bbd-b2e164ed7b30/West+Virginia-0196.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out Babcock Creek above the mill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ee6ecafa-2f42-4471-a921-04ca5e7fa495/West+Virginia-0214.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out Beautiful mushroom in the forest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/eecbd510-3296-438e-a34e-9f10ee2d04b7/West+Virginia-0154.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out Kanawha Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ea7fe960-3983-4bf6-841d-955bb11322c6/West+Virginia--2.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out View into the New River Gorge at Hawks Nest State Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/40051ec0-ef0a-4e95-99ae-86971dd9d11d/West-Virginia-Charleston.jpg Blog - West Virginia - Make it stand out Charleston, the state capital and our home town. West Virginia is a beautiful state; we'll be doing more exploring on future visits. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-northeast-ohio monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/345ec65a-9be6-43fd-bf29-69c954167a7f/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0109.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/598402b8-55ce-4271-99b4-0afc5df9af69/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-2.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out Brandywine Creek https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e52f34c0-40a2-4e8f-a694-6913b0f7b03f/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0092.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out The Ledges hike was our favorite activity we did in the park and one of our all- time favorite hikes. The 60-ft high cliffs are composed of 400 million year old sandstone. So much color! Along the trail are huge trees and amazing lichens.....what is there not to love? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ceea5ac7-9bd2-4977-a96f-84b69d0edba0/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0076.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out One of several examples of how the rock erodes unevenly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b9319b0-fd1d-4a21-b5cf-72768f61a4d4/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0097.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out It amazes us how trees can find ways to live in the most inhospitable environments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/733f61f1-06f3-411e-bee2-25123059e0c5/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0088.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out Amazing stacks of rocks in this park! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/393a311f-97b6-430a-b0f5-35983843de2a/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0071.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out More of the Ledges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6b2e3015-f411-496f-b06b-189892253c19/Cuyahoga+Valley+NP-0091.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out There is a cave with bats near here. Old growth forests = big trees!Cuyahoga National Park is well worth the stop and a few days. It is loved by the many people who live nearby, so it is not going to give you the quiet and solitude of some of the other parks; however, it will give you amazing hikes, bike rides, and a train ride. We only went to Brandywine Falls and the Ledges, but the potential of the park is great and it is really close to many of our friends. Go spend a few days near Cleveland and find your park! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ed98b5cc-9085-4fbd-874a-ee1278e4493a/Cuyahoga+Valley+Jane-Appleseed.jpg Blog - Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Northeast Ohio - Make it stand out On our last day in the area we visited with Jane's high school friend Nancy Hugus and her husband Ralph. They own Hugus Fruit Farm in Rushville. Johnny Appleseed, pictured, is a popular photo op there. We learned a lot about running a fruit farm, including how to sort apples and how to make cider. We had a great visit and enjoyed their fantastic apples and the best apple cider ever! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/niagara-falls monthly 0.5 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cd4db0f5-9cb8-4e88-80c0-e80a354cf04e/Niagra+Falls-7858.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out American Falls with a Maid of the Mist boat (from the American side) passing by. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/11b39ce0-b7aa-42ea-b193-b2cd0a67b53d/Niagra+Falls-7856.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out Horseshoe Falls. We rode the Hornblower boat "Niagara Thunder" to Horseshoe Falls and really enjoyed getting up close. It is similar to being in a really hard rain storm with lots of wind. The ride is best enjoyed on a warm sunny day, since you'll get wet in spite of the rain ponchos they give you. We also walked through the tunnel to get behind Horseshoe Falls and close to the thunderous water flowing over the falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2bd590fe-0cd9-4e65-8017-823c66926f6f/Niagra+Falls-7897.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out Class 6 rapids on the Niagara River downriver of the falls. We didn't even know there was a "6" classification for rapids. Class 6 is water that is considered not navigable - ie., too dangerous to take a boat through the rapids. The standing waves shown here are about 15 feet tall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/63aa7d90-f3e7-4916-8c6b-6cfe38f65983/Niagra+Falls+IMG_20180918_1346128881.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out Every now and then we let a picture of us slip out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/56056a6f-400c-44ed-9464-177a4080b78d/Niagra+Falls-.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out Floral Clock at the Ontario Hydro Station. This is a huge clock with the face made out of about 17,000 plants. It is replanted twice a year with a new design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9fe4c130-c557-406e-ab6b-634f2ce7442a/Niagra+Falls+IMG_20180917_2025375001.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out One night we went to Clifton Hill where you can find Ripley's Believe It or Not, The Upside Down House, The Hershey Store (fantastic cookies), about a 100 souvenir stores, and a lot of carnival-type rides and games. We rode the GoKarts and played Wizard Glow-in-the-Dark mini-golf. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a3e236cb-49ee-4e6d-afb1-dd9fdfaa4f61/Niagra+Falls-8014.jpg Blog - Niagara Falls - Make it stand out A black squirrel chilling while it watches me.We had a great time in Niagara Falls. Money conversion is done automatically if you use a charge card for everything. Laundromats use only Canadian coins, though. The people were, for the most part, friendly and helpful. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/michigans-upper-peninsula monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c63d2bad-7949-499b-ab1b-fccea4a8a830/Upper+peninsula-7544.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out .The Portage Lake Lift Bridge (between Houghton and Hancock, MI) is the world's heaviest and widest double-decked vertical-lift bridge and a prominent local landmark. Below the bridge is the National Park Service vessel Ranger III returning from a trip to Isle Royale National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/80fa5155-8f7b-45bf-9db3-0c98d01a331f/Chutes-and-Ladders.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Chutes and Ladders, one of the best playgrounds we have ever seen. Jane and I know from personal experience how fun these extra-long chutes are! The UP has many beautiful waterfalls; we visited several, both on the Keweenaw Peninsula and in the Munising area. All of the waterfalls we visited were either a 1-3 mile hike or just beside a road. There are many more waterfalls we did not visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3835c61f-89b1-4e6c-8d10-57f7e43a5c2e/Upper+Peninsula-7721.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Mosquito Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b6a86ee9-3d99-4589-9911-b5f274a4bafd/Upper+Peninsula-7709.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Miners Falls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8ef81012-2664-4376-a66d-04912353ab58/Upper+Peninsula+Tangled-Roots.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out We love tangled tree roots. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6742554b-22b0-4354-a0ed-5964fbba48f4/Upper+Peninsula-7727.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Rock River Falls. This water fall was labeled "for the adventurous." We thought that meant the hike was difficult, maybe scrambling over boulders or long steep climbs. However, the adventure was the drive to the falls. It was seven miles of poorly maintained dirt road to the hike. It took us over an hour to go the seven miles. We took a two and a half hour boat ride to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from Lake Superior. That is the best way to see the cliffs. It was fun to both ride the boat and hike on land. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b2a231f5-bd76-4967-96f2-ccc74c1a47ba/Upper+peninsula-7655.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Spray Falls in Pictured Rocks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/7e8ace36-e657-4b4b-8cb0-16a5dc2eb43c/Upper+Peninsula-7673.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Bridal Veil Falls in Pictured Rocks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1731c89a-fe7a-407e-a172-2f3db45b9179/Upper+Peninsula-7664.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Lovers Leap in Pictured Rocks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bb320581-9b9a-4a58-ba1f-561fd70b23e1/Upper+Peninsula-7832.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Mackinac Bridge - the third longest suspension bridge in the US connects the UP with lower Michigan. Yoopers call people from lower Michigan trolls (because they're below the bridge). Mackinac Island is in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. Automobiles have been outlawed since 1898. People get around the island via horse drawn carriage, bicycle, and walking. The fudge is as good as advertised and there are lots of great places to eat, walk, and ride a bike. We walked (because we brought the dog instead of our bikes) from the ferry dock to Arch Rock then back to town via Fort Mackinac. A very relaxing day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/31e92a82-0ea1-4e6f-81af-cc566c03d1c1/Upper+Peninsula-7779.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Ferry to Mackinac Island https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e5bebf6d-4c4f-4ab1-9ad4-35b530268eb4/Upper+Peninsula-7774.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Mackinac Island Arch Rock https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ba817f8c-2f22-490e-8656-27bbcfd9f203/Upper+Peninsula-7797.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Mackinac Island Grand Hotel. It is a place of tradition and luxury. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/00ed773c-c1ff-4341-8849-149e9555aa1e/Upper+Peninsula-7764.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Grand Hotel carriage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f70314d7-dc9d-431f-aa66-3bcac8d8baa4/Upper+Peninsula-7785.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Round Island Lighthouse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/916423e8-486d-4e73-aad7-05f508e84af6/Upper+Peninsula-7766.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Mackinac Island St Anne's Church. Mackinac Island is a fun place to visit and a great place to slow down and unwind. I recommend bringing a bike and planning on exploring the island that way. Bikes and dogs are allowed on the ferry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/0b24ac26-ddd4-4914-8e39-819a682552d7/Upper+Peninsula+Great-Idea-Sun-Dial.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Really cool clock on the public pier in St Ignace (say IG-nuss). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5faed91c-c36d-44b4-a878-e311b623d926/Upper+Peninsula+Imperfect-Implementation.jpg Blog - Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Make it stand out Oops. We really enjoyed our time in the UP and will return. There are more trails to hike and lakes to kayak! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/theodore-roosevelt-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e193b1a5-142c-42c9-bd4a-20c59c58afaa/Theodore+Roosevelt+NP+Horses-7465.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out The wild horses are pretty easy to spot, but as this picture shows, they are a bit wary of people. I saw these horses just off the main loop road on a hill and climbed up an adjacent hill to take the picture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b38b05d7-f912-4756-970c-818e89da7436/Theodore+Roosevelt+Badlands-7273.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out This is the badlands. Vistas like this are common from the loop road in the south unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/67103fc9-941f-4574-9334-1afda74ff18f/Theodore+Roosevelt+Badlands-7333.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out More badlands. Theodore Roosevelt NP has several areas of petrified wood. We visited one in the south unit. The trailhead was fairly remote at the end of a 7-8 mile dirt road and the then about 1.5 miles to the area with the petrified wood. It was fascinating to see the stumps and trunks on the ground. It was easy to identify trees vs rocks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/311b3b70-b6d1-478e-ad6a-95dd77565022/Theodore+Roosevelt+Badlands-7387.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out Petrified stump https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/da8cbf96-7a14-406f-911a-ad5947be6d5c/Theodore+Roosevelt+-7413.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out Petrified log https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8261b0bc-a848-482c-b9b1-d961a7ca0969/Theodore+Roosevelt+-7393.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out Petrified stump end view https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/601e66dc-ddd8-4478-8010-07947dc100d7/Theodore+Roosevelt+-7405.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out Other worldly rock formations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b10bd993-8d15-4608-8ffb-460f393bb14b/Theodore+Roosevelt+-7422.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out Prairie in the south unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/60d3d108-e8be-4faa-9f40-92d91f5bd829/Theodore+Roosevelt+-7401.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out Wildflowers near the petrified forest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/cc27a187-bfef-4194-9f5b-7463c30b0663/Theodore+Roosevelt+-7488.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out One final horse picture. Theodore Roosevelt NP is located in Medora, ND. Medora is a great town to visit with lots to do outside the park. It has multiple shows, including the Medora Musical, and several good places to eat including the Pitchfork Steak Fondue (picture below). If you go we recommend you plan time for the town in addition to the park. One thing to look into prior to arriving is park construction. While we were there a large paving project was causing significant traffic issues and several of the best overlooks were closed while being rebuilt. We only had four days and that was not enough. Next time we will stay a few weeks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/fb5bdd3b-10ad-4eb4-ac90-63d1fee5625b/Theodore-Roosevelt-Pitch-Fork-Fondue.jpg Blog - Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Make it stand out itch fondue steak. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/beartooth-highway monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/accc8ef0-cc56-4985-8ef1-bb38f9a28ffc/Beartooth+Highway-7051.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out First the shrub meadows, composed mostly of sagebrush with white pine and Douglas fir mixed in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1d79234b-a0ce-4eb5-b218-a9ad084e1875/Beartooth+Highway-7050.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Index and Pilot Mountains are visible in the early part of the drive. At about 8000 feet you transition into meadows filled with beautiful wildflowers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bc6256a3-1b1a-4887-b7c3-b8a758270a5b/Beartooth+Highway-7064.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Beartooth Butte. Many different layers and lots of fossils. You see this Butte for many miles of the trip. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6de518b6-d91a-414e-b744-e37d7e1d9ddf/Beartooth+Highway-7054.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Sticky Geraniums in a meadow above 8000 feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4b9d797c-6b7f-478a-bf5d-51d5f808599b/Beartooth+Highway-7071.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Top of the World Store. The only place to get food and drink along the Beartooth Highway. Above 9500 feet you enter the alpine tundra ecosystem, with low growing vegetation and many glaciers. The only trees are about knee high and lots of snow remained on July 21 when we were there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/b2decb87-566d-4d03-b76e-886beff94815/Beartooth+Highway-7087.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Alpine tundra ecosystem above 10,000 feet elevation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/af144186-fda2-45a4-9516-7f82c1a8d487/Beartooth+Highway-7093.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Alpine tundra area with some glaciers.The Beartooth for which the highway is named is in the photo above (the tiny, pointed peak toward the left). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3000c6e8-3137-4a10-a7fd-a0e3b18ef45f/Beartooth+Highway-7103.jpg Blog - Beartooth Highway - Make it stand out Down to Red Lodge, Montana. You can see a few glimpses of the switchbacks in this picture. This drive is well worth your time when in the Yellowstone area. The views are beautiful and the area is pristine. Red Lodge is a great place to grab a late lunch or early dinner before heading back if you do a round trip. Otherwise, there are several places to spend the night in Red Lodge. There are vehicle length restrictions and the road is closed in the winter. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/yellowstone-another-bucket-list-park monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/98ea5c0c-22f7-4ef0-baf4-ddde2efd3048/Yellowstone+Grand+Prismatic+Spring-7211.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Grand Prismatic Spring https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/42784283-5d60-432c-8912-8dca82e4c6fa/Yellowstone+Heart+Spring-7141.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out This is Heart Spring, named for being the shape of a real heart. It is a hot spring and based on its color about 160 DEG Fahrenheit. We found the lacy sinter edge to be beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/80f1753e-f225-4998-b737-bfc8137e089d/Yellowstone+White+DOme+Geyser-6963.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out White Dome Geyser. We did not get to see it erupt. The sinter cone is 20 feet tall and has been built over several centuries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ae54ee49-239c-4498-86b6-9bee7e5705f4/Yellowstone+Mammoth+Hot+Springs-7237.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Mammoth Hot Springs. The travertine terraces build up at the rate of up to 1/4 inch per day. With these incredible growth rates the terraces are different every time a person visits Yellowstone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/29f97fee-23dd-4613-946a-e4623a4156ce/Yellowstone+Mammoth+Hot+Springs-7226.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out The terraces are beautiful. It is a reasonably short walk on a boardwalk to see all of them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3ee4ab62-64d3-4c66-a5b9-69cf37d97e8c/Yellowstone+Old+Faithful-6892.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Of course we watched Old Faithful erupt. No picture can capture the sound and amazing amount of energy that is released with each eruption. The one we watched lasted over 4 minutes . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/166ed00a-06fb-44de-9628-9ee6d3f9b0fb/Yellowstone+Falls-6990.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out This is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as seen from Artists Point. It is a great view. This is Lower Yellowstone Falls at 308 feet high. When we visited, Uncle Tom's Trail to the base of the falls was closed for reconstruction. If you get a chance to hike it post some pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/60293ead-bccf-4da3-8021-35a0236e027b/Yellowstone+-7003.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out This is the Yellowstone River as it approaches the upper falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/49570bab-9b36-413e-a178-79ae722211f5/Yellowstone+Gibbon+Falls-7026.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Gibbon Falls 84 feet high. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2513c2b7-76b5-4630-ba0d-057f2dba3a98/Yellowstone+Fairy+Falls-7201.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Fairy Falls 220 feet high. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e823a735-df56-47da-b1af-1cbc61555499/Yellowstone+Bison-7034.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Bison dust bath timeBull https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c0b450b4-1baf-4d2d-9188-fe62e73a0a00/Yellowstone+Elk-6999.jpg Blog - Yellowstone Another Bucket List Park - Make it stand out Elk resting during the heat of the day. Yellowstone is an amazing park, but during the summer peak season too crowded for our taste. When we return it will be an early September visit after most kids are back in school. Yellowstone is so massive we will also plan to stay in multiple campgrounds to reduce the driving. From our campground in West Yellowstone it was 45 minutes to the closest visitor center (Old Faithful). Also, the park is most crowded between 10 am and 4 pm so we typically entered the park around 8 am and returned to our camper around noon. Crowds aside, everyone should find a way to experience Yellowstone in person. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/grand-teton-a-bucket-list-national-park monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/a13f01bb-2759-40f6-85e0-70d8c1e63f6e/Grand+Teton+Moultan+Barn-.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out I truly enjoyed my sunrise photography outings, usually followed by a hike. The above photo is of the Moulton Barn, likely the most photographed barn in the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ccdda151-4695-4179-9d2f-3f1cee44d420/Grand+Teton+Moultan+Barn-6365.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out The photo above is from Schwabacher's Landing at the Beaver Ponds. There were anywhere from 10-25 other people each morning I was out taking photos. During these hikes we really enjoyed the alpine environment. The lakes are crystal clear and the flora in the meadows were such a beautiful combination. Below are some photos of alpine wildflowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/01c45793-5a76-4ede-9ffe-ffb56fdd9dab/Grand+Teton+-6839.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out .Alpine Sunflowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/5215fc29-5495-4441-b3e5-8c1282c8ca48/Grand+Teton+-6833.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out Indian Paint Brush https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8dce9d0d-3e94-4d9c-aa81-89d8fec4fc99/Grand+Teton+-6776.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out Alpine Meadow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/f18b4c57-767d-41a1-815f-6624604e32d6/Grand+Teton+-6449.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out Jane and I went to Teton Village and rode the tram to the top of Mount Rendezvous. The ride takes 12 minutes with the longest span between towers being a little over 1 mile. At the top we were 10,450 feet in elevation and there is a small cafe that serves waffles. They are really tasty! We walked around the peak and enjoyed the views. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2539d83d-af98-46eb-a84f-c16f10506afc/Grand+Teton+-6436.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out View of Snake River from top of Mount Rendezvous https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/58f3bb9b-c7ae-4886-a581-50e47b408f49/Grand+Teton+-6433.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out View of middle Tetons from Mount Rendezvous https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/af9be5aa-60d0-46c5-b4c2-54b0cb27f86f/Snake+River+Raft+Trip.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out We also enjoyed a raft trip down the Snake River. We learned that the river is constantly changing - just a few days before our trip, a riverside earthen wall had eroded and collapsed, causing the river to change course and uproot a large section of forest! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/e919290b-ee05-43bb-a666-0fee3384e5b5/Grand+Teton+-6821.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out On our last day in the Tetons I hiked the Paintbrush Canyon Trail. I made it to the alpine ecosystem: minimal trees, leftover snow in July, lots of boulders, beautiful wildflowers, and amazing views. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/438a716f-c93e-433f-a3b2-309fcf0f850f/Grand+Teton+Leigh+Lake+and+Mount+Moran.jpg Blog - Grand Teton, a Bucket List National Park - Make it stand out Later that day Jane and I hiked along String Lake and Leigh Lake. Leigh Lake is an amazingly beautiful alpine lake with extremely clear water. If you have the chance Grand Teton National Park is a great place to explore! https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/devils-tower monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ecd38ea3-a4eb-46d0-9730-8833d8b3a175/Close+Encounters.png Blog - Devil's Tower - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/bfb15011-e0b3-4bee-9951-f364a94d3e8b/Devil%27s+Tower-6088.jpg Blog - Devil's Tower - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/993f9c19-f958-4481-bfeb-41dd97e5c323/Devil%27s+Tower-6200.jpg Blog - Devil's Tower - Make it stand out We hiked all of the trails in the park. Our favorite was the Red Beds Trail. It is 2.8 miles long with more than 500 ft of elevation gain from the low point to the high point. It has great views of the red beds, the prairie, and of course the tower.Devil's Tower is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. June is a traditional sacred month and many Native Americans visit the monument and leave prayer cloths tied to trees. We saw many prayer clothes during our hiking.This is a great stop if you are on your way from the Black Hills in South Dakota to the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area.One thing we have noticed over our first several stops -- everywhere we go we have been accompanied by yellow butterflies, our special reminder of our son Ryan. We have his cremains with us in the camper, and we are comforted to know he is also with us in spirit. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/south-dakota-black-hills monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c47f7c3a-61b0-42eb-bad1-5f0daa6face0/Cave+Bacon-.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/3217b729-39fa-4b97-91b9-3d0d67804173/Mt+Rushmore-5838.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/94cf3277-23da-4f70-ae3c-1e0f89343ccf/Needles+Highway-5875.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/1b03c19d-a0e2-4e50-9834-dc35c6b8ae19/Custer+State+Park+Bison-.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/43fd8452-9be1-47ec-a35b-c9ebd342e314/Custer+State+Park+Sylvan+Lake-6019.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/8a5f83bb-a1ae-47c2-8583-d2e641512b50/Custer+State+Park+-6055.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/4d86c11a-f44c-4f39-999e-5bf89c1bffa4/Custer+State+Park+-6083.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9719c6a9-0366-453e-87e8-21b3761a9f95/Soda+Straw-5780.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9a4ca028-e639-45f7-973f-0987c81931dc/Custer+State+Park+Eye+of+the+Needle.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/479bf1d3-7f6e-4522-ae38-138c6761315a/Wind+Cave-5990.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6e0891d5-658f-48ea-a160-f414360d528a/Custer+State+Park%2C+Sunday+Gulch+Trail.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/ab58b980-4ccb-40d4-b348-7eed6d6550dd/Custer+State+Park%2C+Sunday+Gulch+Trail+Steps.jpg Blog - South Dakota - Black Hills - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/on-the-road monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/d22a898d-43dc-4e93-97eb-fa5348deae7e/Badlands+Sunrise-5670.jpg Blog - On the Road - Make it stand out Later that day we hiked several of the trails and drove out to Prairie Dog Town. Along the way we saw several bighorn sheep. One was perched on the Badlands wall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/9ebfe28a-6bfb-42f6-b306-131145ee9e7d/Badlands+Big+Horn+Sheep-5704.jpg Blog - On the Road - Make it stand out We stopped and admired several of the many overlooks along the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/305c9ee4-7665-43a8-889e-03af49a9bcd1/Badlands+-5718.jpg Blog - On the Road - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/c9444a40-875b-40d6-8c1b-23a746f2e663/Badlands+-5759.jpg Blog - On the Road - Make it stand out At Prairie Dog Town we enjoyed the antics of the prairie dogs and their babies while bison grazed in the distance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/126a7430-579d-4485-80ce-4a8eea964eee/Badlands+Praire+Dog-5735.jpg Blog - On the Road - Make it stand out The next two days were complete washouts with near steady wind, rain, and unseasonably cool temperatures. During this time we hung out in the camper with Jordan. We watched movies, assembled a puzzle, and played dominoes and lots of card games. Jordan learned how to play Spades and he has really caught on fast. Our last trip into the park was to the gift shop and dinner in the rain. Tomorrow morning we are off to Custer, SD. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/welcome-to-our-journey monthly 0.5 2026-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/6f2334ce-9515-4d8a-9031-e08aa5d0d6d4/Big+Kitty-5418.jpg Blog - Welcome to Our Journey - Make it stand out We will be traveling throughout the amazing USA (and occasionally Canada, but only when it is warm) following our whims and the weather to more fully experience this place we have called home for our entire lives. We have spent the past few months preparing: giving items to our kids, selling other items, finishing smaller items in our house, and making modifications to our camper. It can be exhausting work. We can see the finish line and are approaching ready. First up, the Twin Cities in Minnesota where Jordan, our 11 year old grandson, will join us for a trip to South Dakota and we will visit my brother Tim and his family. We will visit Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, our campground swimming pool, and Custer State Park. Jordan will then return home and we will continue on our 15 to 20 year camping trip. The next few stops include: Devils Tower National Monument, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Little Bighorn National Battlefield, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We then plan to meander our way to Florida where we will spend several months this winter. We don’t know what we will do next, but that is part of the beauty of our new life. We promise we will do something and go somewhere you wish you could experience. If you want to follow our journey we will post updates to Facebook, more extensive updates to our blog at: journeywithjoeandjane.com, and video on our YouTube channel Journey with Joe and Jane (coming later). Our blog and YouTube channel are both works in progress and will initially be unfinished. Your feedback is appreciated and I will fill in the unfinished bits as I learn about website building and video production, both of which are entirely new to me! We will try and reach out to folks as we travel near where you live, however, we don’t know where all of you are off the top of our heads so please reach out to us and help us reconnect in person as we cruise through your area. I close for now with this thought I read someplace, however, I do not remember where: Experiences appreciate and stuff depreciates. https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2022+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2019+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2021+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2024+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2018+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2020+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/blog-1/category/2023+Journey monthly 0.5 https://www.journeywithjoeandjane.com/home daily 1.0 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69fff07cdebb0151836e5217/2818dc90-f0a7-4524-97cd-6c2374284ea1/Utah+Monument+Valley+FB+-.jpg 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