Here you will find an archived weblog of my food, travel, and creative pursuits which I kept from 2010-2016. Please note both that the travel information contained here may outdated and that these logs were created on a prior version of this website and may not yet be optimized for the current version. If you’re looking for specific content, use the search field below! <3
If you're not up for the full 19.4 kilometers of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or if the weather has taken a turn for the worse and the Crossing is closed - the 6 kilometer loop trail to Taranaki Falls is a perfect introduction to Tongariro National Park. We spent quite a good amount of time dawdling at the two beautiful waterfalls, taking in views of both Mt. Tongariro and Mt. Ngauruhoe, and snapping photos that now hang on our walls - so the loop took us about 3 hours to complete.
Read MoreThe only time in my life I enjoyed running was when I lived about four blocks from the beach in Monterey, California. If I woke up early enough, I could walk down to a nearly empty beach with firm sand and a light sea mist in the air - perfect running conditions for me. Before I moved away I made sure to capture a few images to preserve the memory.
After an unplanned night of sleeping in the truck since all the campsites in Yoho National Park were full - I didn't exactly set out on this walk with the most open minded of dispositions. Never the less, the walk around Emerald Lake absolutely blew me away. No ordinary walk around a lake, the 5.2 kilometers are packed with varying environments and amazing views.
Read MoreKaiteriteri is arguably one of my favorite places in the entire country of New Zealand.
That's a lot for me to say about a country in which I've traveled to twice and will continue to return to because I just love it that much. It could have been the welcome sign at the cottage we stayed at or the fruit trees which surrounded the cottage. It may have been the farm stands, nearby gluten free friendly restaurants, or the beaches. In any case it was absolutely lovely.
I admit, I'm getting spoiled by all the beautiful canyons I've had the opportunity to explore. So when it came time to hike up Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park, all I could think of was getting down into the canyon rather than walking along the top. We hiked the trail backwards, starting low at Fifth Bridge and walking uphill to Second Bridge. This little rock outcropping we scrambled down to along the Maligne River, just past Fourth Bridge, may have been my favorite part of the entire 4.2 kilometers.
The draw of Maligne Canyon comes from a few different unique features. First, in some spots at the top of the canyon it's so narrow that squirrels jump across the 50 meter drop. Second, the way the canyon was carved is just fascinating. Beginning at Maligne Lake, the river flows to Medicine Lake where the water drains (almost completely by the winter time) into underground passages which make their way to Maligne Canyon. In the winter, it's possible to take a guided tour through the canyon when the water has all drained out (totally on my list to do now).
A few weeks ago in my post about travel plans gone awry, I mentioned that to cope with those unforeseen changes I try to appreciate the little things like free ferry rides and comfort food. Specifically, I mentioned the ride across Upper Arrow Lake which was followed by enjoying a pile of grilled cheese sandwiches on the beach.
Read MoreStanding in a stranger’s tomato garden on a hot dry day and looking up at this tower was the most important moment I’ve ever experienced in all my travels. It was both an achievement in terms of exploration and discovery as well as a moment of deep connection to my own heritage.
Read MoreLeaving some seriously rainy weather and a very damp campground behind us, we took a chance and drove up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway in Mount Revelstoke National Park. At this point, we had already fled plenty of unfortunate weather and with a seventy percent chance of rain for the next few days - we figured this might be the only chance we have to explore the park.
Read MoreOn my most recent trip to Washington D.C., I got to stay in the Logan Circle area and I have to say - I just loved the location. It was within walking distance of some fantastic gluten free eats, plenty of new museums, and most importantly my favorite gelato (more posts to come on those details). Although, I freely admit that I may have just loved the location because of this Dalmatian art I spotted on a nearby church.
Along the the Sea to Sky Highway, which runs from Vancouver to Whistler in beautiful British Columbia, Porteau Cove Provincial Park is a welcome stop to stretch your legs and admire the views of Howe Sound. This relatively small park has so much to offer and explore including the ferry dock which has several view points to climb to, a sunken ship for scuba divers to explore, and a boat launch.
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