american west, Camping, dinner, Family, Food, Hiking, Opinion, outdoors, photography, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, wine, wine and drink, writing

Arizona Adventures: Sedona

The first stop in our summer road trip, Sedona, Arizona, is known for its red rock formations and eclectic vibes. There are many places to explore in this beautiful part of northern Arizona.

american west, california, Dog, Family, midwest, national parks, Opinion, outdoors, parenting, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Ode to the Great American Road Trip

A prelude to the summer 2022 vacation season, the Cranky Camper takes a drive down memory lane in this essay on the American road trip

american west, california, Hiking, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, writing

A Six Pack of Peaks

The Cranky Camper takes on the 2022 So Cal Six Packs of Peaks challenge- starting with a familiar hike: Mt. Baden-Powell.

american west, Deserts, Hiking, Historical sites, history, Museums, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized

Flagstaff Area National Monuments

A hike down memory lane, this post revisits our 2016 trip to Flagstaff. We visited the Flagstaff area national monuments: Sunset Crater Volcano, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon.

american west, Family, Hiking, Kids, Museums, national parks, outdoors, photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation

Petrified Forest National Park

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.