american west, Brunch, Family, Hiking, holidays, Opinion, outdoors, Shopping, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Scenic Routes: Salt River Canyon

The Cranky Camper family takes the scenic route from Pinetop-Lakeside to Scottsdale on the last day of Thanksgiving vacation. This drive along U.S. Route 60 took us through Arizona's spectacular Salt River Canyon.

american west, california, Camping, Hiking, Historical sites, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized

Hiking the Angeles: Eaton Saddle Trails

With hundreds of miles of trails across over 700000 acres, there are many opportunities for unique adventures in the Angeles National Forest, with each trail bringing something different to explore. This post features two trails, both starting at Eaton Saddle: Tom Sloan Trail and Mt. Lowe Trail to Inspiration Point.

american west, california, Hiking, Historical sites, history, outdoors, safety, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Hiking the Angeles: Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak

With hundreds of miles to explore, the San Gabriel Mountains offer ample opportunities for fun and adventure. One an early fall Saturday, we returned to Eaton Saddle to explore two new peaks: Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak.

coffee, Europe and the United Kingdom, Family, Historical sites, history, Kids, Opinion, outdoors, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Slot Loevestein

The fourth post in our Netherlands series sends us to Slot Loevestein. This medieval castle played a role in the defense of the Dutch Waterline up through World War II. We spent the day as a family, exploring the castle and the scenic towns surrounding it, while learning about its rich history.

american west, breakfast, Brunch, california, Deserts, Family, Hiking, Historical sites, history, outdoors, safety, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

LA Weekends: Hey Hollywood!

The Cranky Campers celebrate the start of the summer solstice in true LA style. We attended the second night of Noah Kahan's "We'll All Be Here Forever" set at the Hollywood Bowl, then returned to Griffith Park to hike up to the famed Hollywood sign and visit the Batcave.