With it's electric energy, close proximity to the scenic Lake Michigan, and plenty of green spaces, there is no shortage of amusements when staying in the Windy City. The first in a three part series on our visit to the Windy City, this post details our travel as well as our walking adventures various parks, Chicago's famed river architectural tours, and cultural highlights.
Nestled in the Inyo National Forest not far from the California-Nevada border and the Eastern Sierras grow the ancient bristlecone pines. In the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, these Pinus longaeva trees grow in the harsh conditions, along with limber pines. The Great Basin bristlecones have stood the test of time and are some of the oldest trees on the planet, with many thought to date over 4000 years old, surviving for millennia in conditions most other plants can't. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is accessible via U.S. 395 to CA-168, with some narrow and slightly scary parts.
A follow up to our previous Henninger Flats post, this article features photos of spring wildflowers in bloom, along with safety tips for a good hike.
A nice hike at dusk, the Mt. Wilson Fire Road from the Pinecrest Gate takes us up a moderately strenuous hike to the Henninger Flats Campground, a nice spot for a snack and views of the San Gabriel Vallley below.
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona was another amazing park on our Spring Break Southwest Roadtrip. The landscape born of volcanic activity, sediment deposits, and geologic uplift looked as if it truly were a desert scene of vibrant color painted on canvas. The national park preserves petrified logs, as well as ancient petroglyphs and desert formations.
The Cranky Camper 