Tag: hiking

Categories
Activities Estate Hiking New York Rural Sightseeing United States

The Perfect Fall Day at Olana State Historic Site, upstate New York

The Perfect Fall Day at Olana State Historic Site

We visited Olana State Historic Site, the estate of artist Frederic Edwin Church, on the most perfect fall day. It was the exact moment of the fall season where the colors were the brightest, and we had such beautiful weather.  We hiked along the Lake Road up to the top of Crown Hill, then from the farm to the main house via the Farm Road and North Road.  Olana and Clermont have always been personal favorites of mine.  Our family has visited these sites so many times over the past several decades. And in the fall, it is the best place for leaf peeping in Upstate New York.

The Perfect Fall Day at Olana State Historic Site
Olana State Historic Site in upstate New York
The Perfect Fall Day at Olana State Historic Site
The view from Lake Road at Olana.
Continue reading “The Perfect Fall Day at Olana State Historic Site, upstate New York”
Categories
Activities Europe Germany Hiking Rural Trees

Hiking the Feldberg Steig in the Black Forest of Germany

Hiking the Feldberg Steig in the Black Forest

One of my bucket list items in life has always been to hike in the Black Forest; the very same forest where Hansel and Gretel got lost.  So during our drive through this part of Germany, we spent a few days exploring the area, and hiked the Feldberg Steig trail.  We were in the very  same woods where Little Red Riding Hood encountered the wolf and my heart couldn’t be happier.

Continue reading “Hiking the Feldberg Steig in the Black Forest of Germany”

Categories
Activities Europe Hiking Rural Sweden

Sweden’s Norra Kvill National Park

Norra Kvill National Park
The entrance to the park.

On our trip through Sweden, we stopped overnight to camp at Kalmar County to see two things; the Rumskulla Oak or Kvilleken, and the Norra Kvill National Park.  Sweden is world renown for its abundance of trees and this park promised us a close look at some old growth forests, which are rare this far south in Sweden.  Not only did we find old growth forests, but large areas of moss covered rocks, a lake covered with lily pads, and heather flowers.  It is a truly magical spot.

Continue reading “Sweden’s Norra Kvill National Park”
Categories
Activities Hiking New York Rural United States

A Glimpse of the Hand Hollow Conservation Area

hand hollow conservation area
Hiking along the green trail at the Hand Hollow Conservation Area.

We’ve been really enjoying our walks at the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, but decided to wander over to the other side of the Hudson River this week.  We decided upon the Hand Hollow Conservation Area; a large conservation area with ponds, trails, and a lake.  In the title I say “a glimpse” because our hike was cut short by the very strong and cold wind on the day of our visit.  It was just not conducive to a small child. No worries! We shall return!

hand hollow conservation area
Getting ready to gear up for our walk.
Continue reading “A Glimpse of the Hand Hollow Conservation Area”
Categories
Activities Hiking New York Rural United States

Leaves and Trees at the Stewart Preserve

stewart preserve
Can you spot the little tree frog?

I love walking in the woods in the fall.  There’s something about the smell of leaves in crisp, cool air that revitalizes my senses.  We visited the Stewart Preserve on a nice fall day.  Though the sun was mostly hidden behind clouds, when it did decide to peek out, the forest glowed. We will definitely be returning to this beautiful place in the early spring to see what else it has to offer.

Continue reading “Leaves and Trees at the Stewart Preserve”
Categories
Activities Hiking New York Rural Sightseeing United States Waterfall

The R.T.M.B.A. Lower Waterfall and Ale Trail in the Catskill Mountains of New York

R.T.M.B.A. Waterfall Trail Ale Trail
R.T.M.B.A. Waterfall and Ale Trail. in upstate New York

We decided to try a short little hike in the Catskills that we found using our AllTrails app that promised a waterfall along Kiskatom Brook, and stumbled onto a large network of trails created and maintained by the Round Top Mountain Bike Association (R.T.M.B.A.).  The R.T.M.B.A. is working on providing riders with more mountain trails, and connecting local businesses in the process.  

We found this little walk along the Lower Waterfall Trail and Ale Trail to be a lot of fun.  With so many interconnecting trails, you really have a lot of flexibility when choosing your path.  For such a short walk, the waterfall was totally worth it.  However, now knowing that the trails were created for mountain bikes, next time I return it will be with a bike.

Continue reading “The R.T.M.B.A. Lower Waterfall and Ale Trail in the Catskill Mountains of New York”
Categories
Activities Caribbean Hiking Jamaica Sightseeing Waterfall

Dunn’s River Falls, Jamaica

Dunn's River Falls
A group of tourists make their way up Dunn's River Falls.

To be honest, I had never heard of Dunn’s River Falls prior to our Jamaica trip.  But when I heard about the number one tourist destination that was even featured in a James Bond film, I did my homework (watched Dr. No) and decided that it was worth a visit.

Continue reading “Dunn’s River Falls, Jamaica”
Categories
Activities Hiking New York Rural United States

Winn Preserve in the Early Fall

Decide Your Adventure - Winn Preserve in the Early Fall
Sunlight in the early fall makes the leaves glow along the trail.

We visited the Winn Preserve on a perfect day.  The temperature was in the mid-60s, the air was crisp, the sun was shining, and the leaves were changing color all around us.  It was also the first time our son put his boots on the ground and “hiked” on the trail with us! Okay, so he didn’t hike the whole thing, but he did walk a stretch of the trail and loved every second!

Decide Your Adventure - Winn Preserve in the Early Fall
My little boy getting his hiking feet on the ground .♥
Continue reading “Winn Preserve in the Early Fall”