Tag: hiking
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Water Dog Lake Park in Belmont, California

By Rachel Puryear Okay, initially, I checked out this park in part because of its name – I imagined dogs of all kinds swimming around in the lake, and just enjoying themselves. The day I went actually didn’t have very many people or dogs there, but it’s a peaceful and pretty local park nonetheless. Also,…
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Great Basin National Park

By Rachel Puryear Far out in the remote Nevada desert, a short distance off America’s Loneliest Highway, is an awesome natural wonder – the Great Basin. Great Basin National Park offers stunning views of the Great Basin, as well as some amazing caves! Plus, it’s an International Dark Sky Park, meaning that the nighttime offers…
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Bedwell Bayfront Park’s Great Spirit Path in Menlo Park, California

By Rachel Puryear You’ve probably heard of Stonehenge in the English countryside – but have you also heard of the Bay Area’s “Stonehenge by the Bay”? Bedwell Bayfront Park features the Great Spirit Path, also known as Stonehenge by the Bay, where you can get a great hike with amazing views, while also seeing stone…
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Taylor Mountain Regional Park in Santa Rosa, California

By Rachel Puryear California’s Sonoma County offers a famously diverse array of beautiful landscapes. Within one set of county lines, you can visit beaches, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, and more. The area also offers plenty of wonderful parks to explore. One lovely such mountainous park is at Taylor Mountain. If you’re ever in the area,…
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Awesome Snowy Forest Images

By Rachel Puryear In the chilly depths of Winter, there is a quiet beauty – snow blankets much of the world, and wraps many forests in an icy splendor. Thank you, dear readers, for reading, following, and sharing. Here’s to awesome Winter wonderlands. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” and subscribe, if you have…
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Urban Nature Hikes in San Francisco, California

By Rachel Puryear San Francisco, California, the City by the Bay, is a major city known for many things – arts and sciences, diversity, great food, culture and progressive attitudes; and it also features lots of stunning natural beauty. Even within this major urban city, there are plenty of places to enjoy the great outdoors,…
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Butano State Park in Pescadero, California

By Rachel Puryear On the coast of the San Francisco Bay Area region, is the charming small town of Pescadero, along the ocean. One of the great gems found on the outskirts of this town is Butano State Park – acres of trails through gorgeous, quiet, humid forests kept moist, and often draped in layers…
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Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, California

By Rachel Puryear Do you love to stroll around a large garden, with a bounty of fresh, beautiful flowers and trees? If so, then Gamble Garden – nestled in the affluent city of Palo Alto, and in the heart of the Bay Area’s Silicon Valley – is a perfect place to visit and enjoy, and…
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Muir Woods in Marin County, California

By Rachel Puryear Nestled in the outskirts of the quiet town of Mill Valley, in Marin County – which is part of the San Francisco Bay Area’s north bay region, is a wonderful little gem known as Muir Woods. It’s an American National Monument, as well. Named for the 19th century conservation activist John Muir,…
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Moab, Utah Road Trip

By Rachel Puryear The southwestern United States region, including Utah; is known for its natural desert scenery that’s as breathtaking and dramatic, as it is otherworldly. Here are the highlights of a recent road trip to Moab, a vibrant town in southeastern Utah, and its surrounding areas: Arches National Park You’ve probably seen iconic images…
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Lake Manly in Death Valley: A Rare and Surreal Experience

By Rachel Puryear On this blog, I’ve written previously about visiting Death Valley National Park, and more desert beauty in the Mojave and in Arizona. This time, we visited Death Valley again to see Lake Manly – a rare lake that occurs in the park’s salt flats after receiving (relatively) large amounts of rain for…
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San Juan Canyon in Belmont, California

By Rachel Puryear The city of Belmont is a quiet, hilly suburb on the Peninsula of the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s home to some beautiful hiking trails, including San Juan Canyon. If you’re in this area, stop by to check out the views, and the natural beauty surrounding this park. For more information about…