american west, california, Camping, Hiking, national parks, outdoors, safety, traditions, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Joshua Tree: Halls of Horrors and Cholla Gardens

In honor of Junior Ranger Day, we spent a lovely spring Saturday in Joshua Tree National Park. We explored more of the park, visiting the popular rock formation called Hall of Horrors and hiked among the interesting desert plants of the Cholla Cactus Garden.

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

Yosemite Adventures: Wapama Falls

With photos and story-telling, the Cranky Camper describes the hike from O'Shaughnessy Dam to the famed Wapama Falls in Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley.

american west, Camping, Family, Hiking, national parks, Travel, Uncategorized, writing

Old Pinnacles

Even with inclement weather presenting challenges for a President's Day camping trip, Pinnacles National Park offered up some new hiking adventures. In this post, the Cranky Camper highlights the lushness of the Bear Gulch and Rim trails, as well as a new hike along the Old Pinnacles trail.

american west, california, Camping, Family, Hiking, Kids, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Transportation Solutions: Biking Yosemite Valley

Biking around Yosemite Valley is a fun way to explore the park, especially with the fair weather and traffic of the summer months.

american west, california, Deserts, Hiking, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Death Valley: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

The fourth post in our Death Valley series explores the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Sand sledding and fun are permitted. As a bonus, the end of the post features a stop at Natural Bridge, an arch within Death Valley National Park not far from Badwater Basin.