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Krystina Castella
San Juan Islands
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Krystina Castella
San Juan Islands
Islands of the Puget Sound
Krystina Castella
The San Juan Islands, in the Pacific Northwest are known for serene landscapes, abundant wildlife, and charming communities. This archipelago comprises several islands, with
Featured
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Krystina Castella
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Old West meets the New Frontier
Krystina Castella
Twenty years ago, Ft. Collins, Colorado was one of those college towns that was an undiscovered gem. Back then it was best known as the town where Disneyland Main Street designer, Harper Goff grew up and used for inspiration. Today the word is out, and it has become a mecca of experimental food (mac and cheese pizza!), nature, art ...
Photo:
Brian Boyl
Millennium & Maggie Daley
A Day of Play, Chicago
Krystina Castella
Millennium Park and nearby Maggie Daley Park are two public spaces in Chicago where the whole day can be filled with play. At these parks locals ...
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Krystina Castella
Smoky Mountains National Park
Most visited National Park in the US
Krystina Castella
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, spanning North Carolina and Tennessee is the most visited National Park in the United States. The name comes from the Cherokee people who called the landscape “place of the blue smoke” referring ...
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Krystina Castella
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
The Super Bloom
Krystina Castella
Every year wildflowers lovers throughout southern California ask, “Will Anza Borrego have a super bloom?” In years with abundant rainfall, the Sonoran Desert landscape is filled with an abundance of colors. At the peak ...
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Krystina Castella
June Lake
A Serene Alpine Environment
Krystina Castella
June Lake offers outdoor adventures and natural beauty throughout the year. Located just a short drive from Mammoth Lakes, June Lake is a destination for those seeking both summer and winter activities ...
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Krystina Castella
Taliesin West
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Krystina Castella
Taliesin West, designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Serving as Wright's winter home from ...
Nature
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Krystina Castella
Horse Meadow
Sequoia National Forest, CA
Krystina Castella
Hidden in the Lower Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, in the Sequoia National Forest, Horse Meadow is a haven for nature lovers. It is known for grassy meadows and wildflowers, creating a colorful landscape during the spring and summer months. The meadow is crisscrossed ...
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Krystina Castella
Mono Lake
Lee Vining, CA
Krystina Castella
Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra near Lee Vining, California, has a rich geological and ecological history that spans millions of years. This ancient saline lake, dates back at least 760,000 years. Its high salinity and alkalinity create ...
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Krystina Castella
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Two billion years in the making
Krystina Castella
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located in western Colorado, is characterized by its sheer, dramatic cliffs with the Gunnison River carving through the landscape. The park's is renowned for its steep
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Krystina Castella
Starved Rock State Park
Oglesby, IL
Krystina Castella
Starved Rock is a sandstone butte towering over the Illinois river and its namesake State Park. It is home to numerous falls, canyons, and hiking trails. It gets its name from a legend of a battle between ...
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Krystina Castella
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Florence, Oregon
Krystina Castella
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, near Florence, Oregon, has one the largest expanses of coastal sand dunes in North America stretching over 40 miles along the coast. Hiking trails wind through the dunes and surrounding
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Krystina Castella
Joshua Tree National Park
Coachella Valley, California
Krystina Castella
Drive only 60 miles north of Palm Springs or 130 miles east of Los Angeles and you will find the dramatic deserts landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. Its unique placement in the Coachella Valley showcases ...
Play
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Krystina Castella
Lakeshore Bike Trail
Chicago, Illinois
Krystina Castella
Upon arrival in Chicago on a sunny summer afternoon, we experienced the city at its best. Driving up along Lakeshore Drive we saw residents pour out of their apartments to enjoy the beautiful ...
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Brian Boyl
Gooseberry Mesa
Slickrock mountain biking
Krystina Castella
Over 20 years ago we walked into the only bike shop in Springdale, Utah, an undeveloped town, right outside of Zion National Park. We asked if there was any good biking around. The owner told us that recently some guys went up to the top of the mesa a few miles away and painted dots on the slickrock and made bike paths. It sounded ...
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Krystina Castella
James Island County Park
James Island, South Carolina
Krystina Castella
For a recreational vacation head right outside of Charleston and visit James Island County Park. It offers camping, open meadows, fishing, crabbing and miles of paved trails for walking, biking ...
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Krystina Castella
Strong Museum of Play
Rochester, New York
Krystina Castella
The Strong National Museum of Play is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of play. Located in Rochester, New York it is filled with interactive exhibits and is home to an impressive collection of toys ...
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Krystina Castella
Children’s Garden, Huntington
Pasadena, California
Krystina Castella
If you find yourself in Pasadena on a warm day with children under seven treat yourself to the enchanted environment of the Children’s Garden at the Huntington.Enter through a tiny blue door into a whimsical landscape to ...
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Krystina Castella
Huntington Beach Play
Risky Muddy Fun
Krystina Castella
Huntington Beach Adventure Playground is for families seeking an outdoor play area that encourages creativity, physical activity, and adventurous play. In the heart of Huntington Central Park, this park offers ...
Art & Design
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Brian Boyl
Fallingwater
The best time to visit
Krystina Castella
When considering the places I wanted to visit on this trip across the country I immediately thought of Fallingwater. I wanted to experience being there ...
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Krystina Castella
Art Institute of Chicago
An Impressive Collection
Krystina Castella
Visitors to the Art Institute Chicago, the USA’s 2nd largest art museum are greeted by their famous iconic lions. Inside guests engage in the one million square feet of ...
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Krystina Castella
Taliesin West
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Krystina Castella
Taliesin West, designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Serving as Wright's winter home from ...
Photo:
Krystina Castella
Shotgun Houses
The colorful vibe of a community
Krystina Castella
Shotgun Houses, the iconic, colorful homes scattered throughout the American South stand out in New Orleans because of the overt personalization. Through color ...
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Krystina Castella
Murals of New Orleans
Krystina Castella
We arrived in New Orleans on a cold overcast day and stumbled upon an explosion of color. Art expressing the history, culture and people of the community. Publicly funded murals, sanctioned street art and graffiti are ...
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Krystina Castella
Columbus, Indiana
Prairie modernism and more
Krystina Castella
Arriving on a Sunday a few hours before sunset Columbus, Indiana was as sleepy as any small town could be. The visitor’s center, small shops, restaurants and churches ...
Cities & Towns
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Krystina Castella
Laguna Beach
Discover the Arts and Beaches
Krystina Castella
Laguna Beach, on the coast of Southern California, offers a blend of natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and a relaxed vibe. Known for its stunning beaches, vibrant arts scene, and charming downtow
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Krystina Castella
Cambria, CA
Pacific Coast Highway
Krystina Castella
The town of Cambria on the central coast of California is a good overnight stop when driving the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to San Francisco or a good to visit for a relaxing weekend getaway. It is less than...
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Krystina Castella
Catalina Island
A quick escape from the mainland
Krystina Castella
Catalina Island, accessible by ferry off the coast, is known for its natural beauty and boating, with opportunities for sailing, kayaking, and
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Krystina Castella
Mobile, Alabama
Antebellum Era & Mardi Gras
Krystina Castella
Mobile, Alabama one of the oldest cities on the Golf Coast is home to seven historic districts. Filled with antebellum homes, murals, and the home of the original Mardi Gras parade. The Mardi Gras Museum shares ...
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Krystina Castella
Ohiopyle
An Outdoors Overload
Krystina Castella
Ohiopyle sounds like it is in Ohio doesn’t it? It is actually in the Laurel Highlands a beautiful region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. We booked a campsite in Ohiopyle State Park to stay ...
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Krystina Castella
San Antonio, Texas
Riverwalk, The Alamo and Country Music
Krystina Castella
San Antonio, Texas, offers a diverse range of experiences including the iconic Riverwalk, the historic Alamo, and its lively country music scene. The San Antonio Riverwalk, or Paseo del Río, is a network of walkways along ...
Roadside Attractions
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Krystina Castella
World’s Largest Thermometer
Baker, California
Krystina Castella
If you have every wondered where and when the hottest temperature every recorded on earth is the answer is 134 degrees F in Death Valley, California on July, 10 1913. That temperature inspired Willis Herron to build World’s Tallest Thermometer to draw freeway travelers ...
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Krystina Castella
Iowa 80
World’s Largest Truckstop
Krystina Castella
In Eastern Iowa when driving on the 80 interstate you can’t miss the descriptively named Iowa 80 Truckstop. From the outside ...
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Krystina Castella
Chairy Orchard
A Landscape of Chairs
Krystina Castella
It was one of those rainy-day drives where we were constantly questioning if we should pull over to the side of the road because the rain was coming down so hard. In times like these we typically do a search on attractions near me which happened to be Denton, Texas- just outside of Dallas. That is how we found the Chairy Orchard surfacing right to the #1 spot. We had no idea what it was, but it was something to do for a bit until the rain let up. We were puzzled by...
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Krystina Castella
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Gering, Nebraska
Krystina Castella
As the great plains give way to the foothills of the Rockies along the North Platte River, the first outcroppings of the foothills are a set of bluffs in Western Nebraska called Scotts Bluff. Named after a fur trader ...
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Krystina Castella
Avila Valley Barn
Avila Beach
Krystina Castella
Avila Valley Barn, at Avila Beach area of California’s Central Coast, captures the essence of farm-fresh goodness. Established as a family-owned and operated farm, The location invites visitors to step into a world of wholesome
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Krystina Castella
William Taft Historic Site
History and Décor
Krystina Castella
Visiting the childhood homes of well know figures tells us a bit more about the environments that shaped their character and philosophy. On a quest for ...
Articles
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Krystina Castella
The Staten Island Ferry
A NYC favorite
Krystina Castella
Some people love trains, other cars or planes. My adoration is for the Staten Island Ferry. Having grown up on Staten Island the ferry connected ...
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Krystina Castella
Surprise: The Blue Angels
Pensacola, Florida
Krystina Castella
This was one of those unplanned spontaneous experiences that makes road trips so sensational. We had just left our picturesque campsite at Blue Lagoon State Park in Pensacola, Florida. Our son was on-line in ...
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Krystina Castella
All About Hay
Golden Pixels in the Landscape
Krystina Castella
In the American prairie states hay is hard to miss. Golden pixels in the landscape in many shapes and sizes. I decided to find out as you never know when I will need to whip out these facts at a dinner party or if a student develops a project around horses or cows ...
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Krystina Castella
Junior Rangers
A playful way to explore the parks
Krystina Castella
There they were. Two inspired children on a mission, storming through the visitor’s center doors of Fort Necessity National Battlefield just outside of Pittsburg. They proudly showcased their achievements all over their clothing. As they made their way to the front desk, they enthusiastically asked the ranger on duty, “Do you have Junior Ranger booklets?” These kids were...
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Krystina Castella
Ice Cream Trucks
The taste of summer
Krystina Castella
Before I saw the truck I heard the jingle off in the distance. I knew the melody well-The Entertainer. Once in sight it was hard to miss. A brightly colored truck ...
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Krystina Castella
Campground Christmas
A Summertime Celebration
Krystina Castella
Celebrating Christmas is merry. The decorating, the music, the sweets. A full month of diversion from the everyday filled with the excitement of the season. But in July? While camping? To our surprise Christmas was uncovered at Ledges State Park in Iowa. From the park’s name we expected sandstone rock ledges, a flowing creek and lush trees nestled...
