Category: Rural

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Activities Rural Sightseeing South Carolina Trees United States

The Formidable Angel Oak Tree in South Carolina

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Angel Oak Tree of South Carolina

If you are ever visiting Charleston, South Carolina, I highly recommend taking a short 30 minute detour to visit the formidable Angel Oak Tree.  It is a magnificent Live Oak Tree whose limbs sprawl out wide and long reaching every which way.  It looks like the Tree of Life with its overarching presence. I’ve mentioned before my love for old, giant trees (see my post about the Kvilleken Oak tree).  This tree is one of the most beautiful that I’ve ever seen.  It is humbling and awe inspiring to be around.

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Activities Hiking New York Rural United States

Beating the Heat at Wolf Creek Falls Preserve

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Wolf Creek Falls Preserve in upstate New York

How does one beat 94 degree weather during summer in New York state? Going for a nice walk under a canopy of trees along a fast-flowing creek works really well!  That’s what we did when we recently visited the Wolf Creek Falls Preserve in Knox, New York.

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Europe Hot Springs Iceland Relaxation Rural

Relaxing at the Hveravellir Thermal Springs of Iceland

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Hveravellir Thermal Springs in Iceland

When visiting Iceland, we were excited about the thermal springs everywhere.  Everyone has heard of the Blue Lagoon located southwest of Reykjavik for obvious reasons, it is a stunning facility where, as a guest, you are pampered.  But not many people have heard of the Hveravellir thermal springs.  My husband and I (fiance at the time) were looking for something a little less formal.  We wanted to go straight into the ground.  No finesse, no spa, just pure thermal springs and us. Hveravellir did not disappoint did not disappoint.

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Activities Hiking New York Rural United States

Shaver Pond at Grafton Lakes State Park in upstate New York

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Grafton Lakes State Park is a glorious little destination that is very popular and well-known in its local area for its beach, which is always packed on a hot summer day.  However, there is far more to Grafton Park than its beach.  We went off the “beaten path” here, onto their small trail that went around Shaver Pond, and had a very private experience.

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Activities Estate Historic New York Rural Sightseeing United States

Clermont in June; The Beauty along the Hudson River in New York State

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Two places very near and dear to my heart are Clermont and Olana; two historic homes and estates located in the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York that are now protected State parks.  Both places have contributed greatly to local and national history, and in very different ways.  We recently visited and hiked around Clermont and I must say that in June, it may be one of my favorite settings in the world.

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Beach Greece Ikaria Relaxation Rural

Traipsing Along Seychelles Beach in Ikaria, Greece

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Seychelles Beach, Ikaria, Greece. Photo by April Van Valkenburg.

Perfect white pebbles and clear blue water.  That is what you are in for when you visit the Seychelles Beach along the southern coast of Ikaria, Greece.  For anyone looking for the idyllic Greek beach to see while they are on vacation, this is the place to visit.

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Activities Hiking New York Rural United States

Glorious Summer at the Normans Kill Preserve West in the Capital District, Upstate New York

Decide Your Adventure - Normans Kill West Preserve

There’s nothing like the height of summer.  Long hours of sunshine paired with lush greenery is what I look forward to all year and is what I got to enjoy at the Normans Kill Preserve West.  Add golden hour to the mix, that special time just before sunset where the angle of the sun casts a warm glow on everything it touches, with stark shadows on everything else, and you have a pretty perfect setting.

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Rural Sightseeing Sweden Trees

Visiting the grand Kvilleken Oak Tree in southern Sweden

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The Kvilleken Oak Tree in Sweden

It’s no secret that I absolutely love trees.  So when I stumbled upon the Monumental Trees website, it changed my world and led me to the Kvilleken Oak tree; a truly gem of a tree located in the heart of Sweden.

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