My nephews stumbled on a way to combine their two favorite hobbies: skiing and horseback riding. What they didn’t know is that this hybrid sport has a name. Skijoring is Norwegian for “ski driving” and has been around a while—although no one is sure how long. Variations include getting pulled by a dog (or more likely a team) or a machine. Competitions exist wherever snow is deep enough to hold them, including the championships in Whitefish, Montana.
In the vicinity of Los Angles lies Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Its 4,700 acres is home to an observatory, museum, zoo, several hiking trails, and the iconic Hollywood sign. But the most peculiar part is the abandoned zoo, a photographer’s dream. The zoo opened in 1912 but was abandoned in the 60s in favor of a new home a few miles away. Continue reading “Crawling through the Abandoned Zoo in Griffith Park”
Here’s a list of my top five favorite places to hike in southern Utah, chosen based on trails that are less crowded and off the beaten path. Two are from the Grand Staircase-Escalante Region, an area of more than two million acres with only one maintained trail. Spring and fall is the perfect time to check out southern Utah before the heat becomes unbearable. Click on the links to learn more.
Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon are two of the most stunning and easily accessible slot canyons. The trailhead to both is located a few miles west of Goblin Valley State Park, which is north of Hanksville, Utah. Continue reading “Little Wild Horse Canyon/Bell Canyon”
There’s parks you go to for a peaceful commune with nature; this is not one of those. This is a park you go to for a bitchin’ good time. Acres of red sand dunes make for a wild adventure of your choice. If you’re like some of my family, there’s plenty of crazy hills to dare each other higher up. If you’re like me, there’s plenty of low rolling hills to speed over and attempt to look cool. Continue reading “Sand Hollow State Park”
Confession: Goblin Valley is my absolute favorite state park so if you could do me a solid and stay away, I’d sure appreciate it. Already hard enough to get a campsite there, I don’t want even more crowds. This out-of-the-way park makes you feel like you’re eight years old and the world is just waiting to be explored at no less than a sprint. Continue reading “Goblin Valley State Park”
Grab your gloves and snow boots, it’s time for an adventure in a frozen wonderland—right in your own backyard! Here are fun twists on classic winter pastimes, like sledding and making snowmen. Learn how to design your own backyard winter Olympics.
Historic Camp Floyd hosts ghost hunts three weekends a year in October, opening their hundred-year-old inn, museum, and cemetery to prying eyes and cameras. The night started off with instructions on how to spot the ghosts; then the lights were extinguished and off we went to find the spooky specters.
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park sits on the edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument next to a large reservoir and surrounded by a petrified forest at least a million years old. The peaceful campground (with showers) is the perfect base camp to visit the hundreds of surrounding slot canyons. Within a few hours drive is, not only the monument but Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Park. This area is still largely ignored by the tourist hoards.
