When our Asheville-based friends let me know they were spending spring break in Colorado this year, we decided to add a stop in Boulder to the end of our California/Nevada road trip so we could spend a day with them. While they are avid hikers, it is not their daughter's favorite activity so we chose …
I randomly tagged the Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area outside Las Vegas as a quick stop on our drive back from California. Little did I know it would end up being an all-day adventure and a favorite of the trip! This protected area is part of the Mojave Desert and home to a variety …
Continue reading Exploring Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
After several fun and busy days in Sequoia National Park, we drove the Generals Highway north into Kings Canyon National Park for a couple additional days of time outdoors. While Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically two separate parks, they operate as one unit so it made perfect sense to explore both during our visit. …
Continue reading Two Days in Kings Canyon National Park, California
We recently crossed off our final California national parks by spending several days in both Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. We began our time in Sequoia National Park and stayed in Three Rivers near the park's south entrance so we could make the most of our three days. The location was great …
Continue reading Three Days in Sequoia National Park, California
When Brian visited Death Valley National Park 20+ years ago on his motorcycle, he remembered driving through it as quickly as possible to beat the heat. Happily our late March visit via car allowed us a more leisurely pace, although the 98 degree highs did have us wrapping up our hikes by mid-day. I underestimated …
I feel incredibly lucky to live an hour from Badlands National Park, which gives us the opportunity to quickly take advantage of breaks in the weather to explore this beautiful area. Such was the case last week when our January temperatures rose into the upper 50 F / 10 C for a few days. Although …
Continue reading South Dakota Hikes: Badlands Saddle Pass Loop
Our 2025 was filled with new adventures and lots of travel to spend time with loved ones, both domestic and abroad. We started the year with road trips around the Mountain West to visit friends and family in Colorado and Utah and hike in new-to-us national parks in Utah and Nevada, including Capitol Reef, Bryce …
Finding direction and purpose on the road, in the outdoors, and on the page
Finding direction and purpose on the road, in the outdoors, and on the page
Finding direction and purpose on the road, in the outdoors, and on the page
Heather's Compass 