In Colorado, a state filled with gorgeous mountain ranges, you might not expect to also find the tallest sand dunes in North America. Nestled against the Rocky Mountains, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a wonderful national park that includes not only the dunes themselves but also forest and mountain trails.
Read MoreNot far from Pagosa Springs is the conveniently located and beautiful Treasure Falls. This 105 foot high waterfall is just off the highway and should not be missed by anyone driving by.
Read MoreWhile in Pagosa Springs we wanted to go for a nice hike with some great views. Many of the hiking trails close to Pagosa Springs didn’t quite meet our requirements so we decided to drive a bit into the mountains to find a better trail. Fortunately, Taylor had heard about the Piedra River Trail to the northwest of town and we decided to go there.
Read MoreAnother trail that’s on the western end of Sedona is the Doe Mountain Trail. This shorter trail has a much steeper incline than most of the surrounding trails, but offers some amazing views at the top. The hike up isn’t too difficult considering the overall elevation change.
Read MoreOut on the western end of Sedona, alongside many other trails, is the Boynton Canyon Trail. This trail travels 3 miles into the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness to the northwest of central Sedona. Finishing the trail to the end is essential since the best view is at the trail’s end.
Read MoreHidden away from the main trails and viewpoints at the Grand Canyon is a secret place with amazing views that very few tread.
Read MoreAbout six miles southeast of Williams is Dogtown Lake. The lake is a recreational area and campground where people can fish, camp, picnic, hike, and just enjoy the outdoors. The name “Dogtown” comes from the large prairie dog towns that once ran through the open areas near the lake. We drove out here after breakfast to take the hiking trail around the lake.
Read MoreThe Sugarloaf Loop and Teacup Trail offers an easy to moderate hike with some amazing views of the Sedona rocks and scenery. With its central location in Sedona and fantastic viewpoints of the surrounding rocks it’s a wonder why it’s not as popular.
Read MoreRed Rock State Park is a 286 acre nature preserve located about ten miles outside of Sedona. The park boasts a five mile network of trails ranging from walks by Oak Creek Canyon lined by tall trees to paths that take you to the top of some great lookout points. The Miller Visitor Center has educational exhibits with information about the park and Sedona area, as well as restrooms and a gift shop.
Read MoreWhile in Miyajima we made the trip up to the peak of Mount Misen where we were treated to some gorgeous views of the nearby sea and islands. The mountain itself is part of the World Heritage site of the Itsukushima Shrine. Founded by Kukai, one of Japan’s most famous monks, it is home to the Daisho-in temple and a flame that has been burning for over 1200 years. It is a popular tourist spot for locals, and from the top of the mountain there are breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Read MoreFall colors in Arizona isn’t something we usually get to see often and in great quantity, so we were recommended by a friend to stop off at Lockett Meadow to see some. We happened to pass by the road for the meadow on our way back from the North Rim and had to make a quick detour.
Read MoreThe North Rim consists of a smaller area of the Grand Canyon than the South Rim, but it still has so much to offer. Although the park has fewer viewpoints than the South Rim, it has many more trails. These trails have a wide range from the difficult North Kaibab Trail to the very easy Cape Royal Trail. The viewpoints still offer breathtaking views of the canyon and from a lesser seen perspective.
Read MoreTraversing the Monument Valley Drive was great and we saw so many wonderful views, but it isn’t quite close enough to some of the rock formations. We decided to go hiking and take the Wildcat Trail, the only self-guided trail in Monument Valley, to get a different perspective of some of the landmarks.
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We’re Taylor and Michelle and welcome to our blog documenting our travels and food we eat. We hope this inspires you to visit new places and try some delicious food!
Nom Nom the Adventure Cat
