3,127 Miles Later

I arrived in Vancouver today after grossly underestimating how long it would take to get to here from Banff. It wasn’t the distance so much as the roads and how fast you can go on a winding mountain highway. I also ended up pulling over to sleep for an hour in the middle of the …

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The Quick and Dirty Guide to American National Parks

This guide is for both Americans who are looking to explore their own country, and for those from outside of the US who are looking to make a trip to America. It is by no means an exhaustive treatment of the subject, but it should answer some of the obvious questions and give you a …

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Free Fun in the Minneapolis Riverfront District, Minnesota

One of the things I love the most about Minneapolis is that there are so many great things to do outside – for free!  One of the best areas to visit during a trip there for free fun is the Minneapolis Riverfront District, which is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, one …

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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Located due south of Yellowstone National Park and connected by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, Grand Teton National Park offers some of the most picturesque mountain views in the United States. Named after the largest peak in the Teton Range, the park is home to elk and moose as well as Jackson Lake …

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Theodore Roosevelt is one of my favorite national parks and perhaps the most underrated national park in the entire US National Parks system. I visited the park as part of my 2009 North American road trip. Located in the Western North Dakota Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt was named after the US President who spent time in …

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Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Nevada

Overview Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in Nevada is one of the newest additions to the National Park Service, having been established in 2014 as a national monument. Given its recent addition to the park service, the site is still underdeveloped and there is little in the way of interpretative or visitor services. It …

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Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada/Arizona

Overview Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located in southern Nevada and western Arizona along the Colorado River and Lake Mead, which is the reservoir created along the Colorado River by the Hoover Dam. It also included the smaller Lake Mojave which is created by the Davis Dam. It was the first National Recreation Area …

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Start Spreading The News, I’m Leaving Today

Well, my week in New York is wrapping up. What began as an audible* I had to call from Puerto Rico turned out all right in the end. Here are some of the highlights of my week in New York: Staying At The Jane Hotel It took me a while to find a place to …

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Off to New York!

In about 12 hours I’m off to New York for my first real trip away from Wisconsin since I flew back from Spain to be with my dad. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was ambivalent about going. My dad is doing better, but he’s far from being out of the woods. He …

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