american west, california, Camping, Hiking, Opinion, outdoors, safety, Travel, Uncategorized, writing

Geology Adventures: Pisgah Crater

Pisgah Crater, located in the literal middle-of-nowhere off Interstate 40, is a geology adventure perfect for rockhounds and cave enthusiasts. In this post, I share our experience exploring the lava fields and crater, along with some practical considerations. Please note that camping is not allowed on private property, and that dispersed camping on BLM land comes with no services. Also, exploring the lava tubes can carry some risk, so proceed with caution.

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.

Europe and the United Kingdom, Family, Opinion, safety, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Burgled in Barcelona and Other Lessons Learned

With raw feeling and a touch of humor, the Cranky Camper shares her experiences with being robbed abroad, along with other lessons learned.

american west, Camping, Dessert, Food, Hiking, national parks, Opinion, safety, Style, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation, writing

Capitol Reef National Park

With fruit trees, pie, stunning canyons, and natural bridges, Capitol Reef National Park is an adventurer's paradise. While it was quieter than Arches or even Canyonlands, this national park was probably my favorite.

california, Camping, national parks, outdoors, Travel, Uncategorized

Joshua Tree National Park

About 130 miles from Los Angeles, California where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet, lies Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree is home to a diverse population of desert-adapted species, including the famed Joshua tree for which the park is named. This post details our spring break trip taken before the weather heated up.