For a nice hike that offers up some challenging spots and good elevation gain but is also easily accessible from the Pasadena area, the Inspiration Point Interpretive Site is a great destination. This post routes the trail from Echo Mountain to Inspiration Point via the Castle Canyon Trail.
I love Indio as it is an easy two hour getaway from where we are down Interstate 10, and the World Mark Indio is a very nice resort. The kids love relaxing the lazy river or by the pool. There are also a myriad of places to explore in the vicinity of Indio and Palm Springs.
The historic Arroyo Seco Parkway is wonderfully scenic, taking drivers from wooded suburbs of South Pasadena to the rolling hills around Chavez Ravine to the bright lights of Downtown Los Angeles. There are also many points of interest- from sports venues to museums and cultural centers- along the way.
On a sunny Florida day, the Cranky Campers take a drive down the Florida Keys; stopping at beaches for swimming and snorkeling, with a drive down the iconic Seven Mile Bridge. Take me to Florida!
At the end of the summer, I revisited Everglades National Park. On this visit, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center was now open, and I was able to spend some time watching a September Florida thunderstorm from the outside porch overlooking a manmade pond and the river of grass. I also revisited the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo Trails and trekked over to the Long Pine Trail.
The Cranky Camper 