Category: Day Trips

Finally Finding Moose

Traveling with children, the highlight is often the wildlife we encounter. We saw a bobcat in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and a grizzly bear in Glacier. Black bears were encountered in the Great Smokey Mountains, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. Bison were spotted in Theodore Roosevelt National park, Badlands, and Wind Cave. All of these were great sightings! What my family really wanted to see, however, were moose.

A journey to and through Rocky Mountain National Park

Traveling with children, the highlight is often the wildlife we encounter. We saw a bobcat in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and a grizzly bear in Glacier. Black bears were encountered in the Great Smokey Mountains, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. Bison were spotted in Theodore Roosevelt National park, Badlands, and Wind Cave. All of these were great sightings! What my family really wanted to see, however, were moose.

We had tried in the past. On a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine, we drove north of the Bar Harbor tourist area and booked a lodge on Moosehead Lake. Not just a deceiving name, moose were spotted regularly here. We didn’t want to leave it to luck, so we booked a tour with a local operator and went on a moose safari! Three hours on the backroads and waterways of Maine….. no moose. On another trip, we stayed in Grand Teton National Park at the Signal Mountain Lodge for 5 nights. Each morning the board at the various ranger stations would list the moose sightings the day before. On the trail past Inspiration Point through Cascade Canyon, we passed hikers going in the opposite direction who had just seen a large bull moose! We continued on….. no moose. We hoped to break this streak of mooselessness with a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

We have visited Rocky Mountain National Park twice. RMNP can be reached by 4 different entrances. In 2016, we took a day trip here from Denver, so we focused on the east side. We knew we wouldn’t be able to see it all in a day, so we saved the Bear Lake, Wild Basin, and west sides of the park and returned in 2021 for another trip. The western side is also known for its moose habitat. Here is what we found to do!

The East Side

We entered the park through the Fall River Entrance. We knew we wanted to drive up the winding Old Fall River Road which had just opened for the season the week before. Sometimes this road is still snow-covered into July. Our first stop, though, was the Alluvial Fan Trailhead.

The Alluvial Fan

There are plenty of rock scrambling opportunities on the Alluvial Fan.

If you have kids who like to scramble around rocks, this is the spot for you.

Endovalley picnic area

Since we were staying in Denver (a little over an hour away from the park entrance) on this trip, by the time we were done climbing rocks at the alluvial fan, the kids were already hungry. We pulled off at the Endovalley picnic area to eat our packed lunch. After eating we followed a path to a pretty little stream.

Old Fall River Road and Chasm Falls

Just after the Endovalley picnic area, the one-way Old Fall River Road begins. This unpaved road is an adventure in itself as it snakes its way from an elevation of 8,500 to 11,700 at the Alpine Ridge visitor center.

The packed dirt Old Fall River road

Highlights along the Old Fall River road drive include the 25-foot Chasm Falls and the elk that are often lolling about near the end of the road.

Chasm Falls
A handsome elk watching the cars pass on Old Fall River Road
Looking back down Old Fall River Road from the Alpine Visitor Center.

Alpine Ridge Trail

We arrived at the Alpine Visitor Center around 2:00pm. It was July 2nd, but the remains of the winter’s snow were still present. At the Alpine Visitor center, there are restrooms, a gift shop, interpretive exhibits, and a lovely veranda to just sit and enjoy the view. My favorite activity here was the Alpine Ridge Trail. Starting just steps from the parking lot, it takes you up over 400 stairs to reach an elevation of 12,005 feet.

At this elevation the trees give way to tiny alpine tundra plants. The small flowers are a testament to life’s perservence amidst the greatest difficulties.

Elk grazing as seen from the deck of the visitor center.

Tundra Communities Trail

After the vistitor center and alpine ridge trail, we started our descent on the Trail Ridge Road. This road traverses the entire park but we were using it to return to our starting point in Estes Park.

One stop we enjoyed was the Tundra Communities Trail. The hike is only 1 mile on a paved trail but the elevation and beautiful views make you want to take it nice and slow. A benchmark at the top helps one orient themself to the views in front of them but in my opinion, the tiny alpine tundra plants stole the show.

Hidden Valley

Back down below 10,000 feet, we stopped one final time to rest and enjoy the warmer air at the Hidden Valley picnic area. I am always a bit sad to leave a park but I was confident that we would return.

Between this trip and our more recent visit to Colorado, our family travels took us to Utah’s big 5, Acadia and northern Maine, Northern California, and Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks. We had encountered most of the North American megafauna but one animal was still eluding us, the moose.

The West Side

We returned to the park in 2021. It was our final destination on a road trip to visit all of Colorado’s National Parks. We spent two nights in a beautiful A-frame rental that we found on VRBO. It was 12 minutes to the trailhead for Adams Falls and 5 minutes to the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. The west side entrance of the park is near the town of Grand Lake. It was very charming and did not have the overwhelming crowds of Estes Park. I chose the rental I did because the listing displayed pictures of moose seen from the home!

First “sighting”

Up before the sun with excitement, I bundled up to enjoy my morning coffee on the deck. As the sun was rising, I heard munching in the brush 20 yards from the house. The light was still dim and I could not get a photo but my youngest came out to join me just in time to be treated to the flank of a retreating moose. Sighting number 1! They do exist! The rest of the family, however, was still skeptical.

Adams Falls

Leaving the kids to sleep in and have a relaxed breakfast, my husband and I drove to the other side of Grand Lake to hike the short trail to Adams Falls. The parking area can be found here. Though this trail does not require driving into the park through a major entrance, a valid park pass is still required. Information about purchasing passes can be found here. When timed entry passes are required in addition to the standard park pass, this is a trailhead that can still be accessed at any time.

The short hike to Adams Falls is only .3 miles.

After exploring the falls, we ventured along the East Inlet Trail. The trail followed the East Inlet a bit before passing through an open meadow and then entering into some thicker forests. Back in the forest, about 50 feet off the trail, moose number two was lurking, munching her way through the vegetation.

The elusive moose.

Trail Ridge Road

We scooped up the kids from the rental and set off to see the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. We picked up the Trail Ridge Road, intent on covering all the ground we had missed out on 5 years before. After passing through some burn scar, including a partially destroyed entrance gate, from the fall 2020 East Troublesome fire, our first stop was the Coyote Valley Trail. This pleasant 1-mile trail is flat and wheelchair/stroller accessible. It also gave us a chance to get up close to the Colorado River.

A walk along the Coyote Valley Trail
The mighty Colorado River, not far from its headwaters.

Lake Irene Picnic Area

Our lunch stop for the day was the Lake Irene Picnic Area. Parking was a bit crowded but once we found a spot there were plenty of open picnic tables. After eating we strolled down to the lake and this was where we had our best moose sighting yet!

As we walked along the edge of the water, a mother moose brought her calf down to the water’s edge on the opposite side of the lake. We stood and just watched for a very long time.

The return to the Alpine Ridge Trail

Our goal for the day, other than finding moose, was to make it back to the Alpine Visitor Center. After a stop at the gift shop, I convinced the boys to hike the Alpine Ridge Trail with me again. It was August 13th and it was just starting to snow!

Here comes the snow!

We retraced our path back to Grand Lake, satisfied that we had now traveled all of Trail Ridge Road and satisfied with our grand moose sighting! But before leaving the park, we spotted moose numbers 5 and 6!

Then moose number 7…the end.

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Delicate Arch Daydream

Dreaming of visiting the iconic delicate arch in Utah’s Arches National Park? I was after a quick trip in 2017 allowed us time to drive through the park but not hike this staple of Utah license plates! We had the opportunity to visit Moab again in 2021. Here is what we found to do!

Get there early!

This is a popular hike and we were visiting in early August. To beat the heat and the crowds we were in the park by sunrise. The warm, early morning light danced on the red rocks making for surreal colors all around. At 6:30 am, the sun was just coming up and the parking lot was already half full. We took our time getting gear on, plenty of water is a must, and using the facilities at the trailhead. As we started the hike, the sun was a glowing red ball in front of us.

The trail!

There are two areas to view Delicate Arch. One takes you to a viewpoint with the arch just visible one mile away. A better view is achieved by taking the 3-mile hike to the base of the arch. The hike is exposed and can be very warm in the summer or very icy in the winter. It gains almost 500 feet in elevation but the effort is very much worth the experience of being up close to this geologic wonder.

The approach!

  • Twisted Doughnut Arch
  • Delicate Arch seen through the Twisted Doughnut

After climbing for about a mile, the path levels off. For a neat first view of Delicate Arch, don’t miss Twisted Doughnut Arch. Located on the right near the end of the trail, it is a quick climb to peer at Delicate Arch through its opening.

Another unnamed arch is in the distance as we get ready to round the final bend before Delicate Arch.

Enjoying the Delicate Arch!

Arches National Park’s Delicate Arch

Delicate arch seemed bigger than it looked in photos. The opening beneath the arch is 46 feet high. It sits atop a giant sandstone bowl that allows the many people who hike this way to spread out in a circle in front of it. Walking around the edge of this bowl and climbing up some of the surrounding rocks give several different perspectives.

We spent at least an hour here, just taking it all in before the easy hike back down. The 4 years it took to return to Arches National Park was definitely worth the wait.

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Blackwater Falls State Park

View of Blackwater Falls from the east side overlook.

Located in northeastern West Virginia, Blackwater Falls State Park is a worthy destination on its own. Combined with the beauty of the surrounding area and plenty of hiking in nearby Canaan Valley State Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness, and Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, this is a must-see area of the country!

Here are our favorite stops in Blackwater Falls State Park.

Blackwater Falls

The park’s namesake waterfall did not disappoint. It was easy to get to and suitable for all ages. It did not require any hiking, but there were boardwalks with a lot of stairs to get to the best views. The park map states that the boardwalk is .25 miles long. The parking area for the falls, as well as a gift shop and concessions, can be found here.

Boardwalk to falls, interpretive sign, and views of Blackwater Falls

Blackwater Falls is the tallest waterfall in West Virginia at a height of 57 feet. The Blackwater River is named for its chocolate brown color which comes from the tannins released from Hemlock and other trees in the area. I read that there is a lot of iron oxide in the surrounding shale which also contributes to the river’s color. Despite the brown hue of the river, the falls themselves were very white.

Flowing over 30 miles from where it originates in the Canaan Valley and dropping 1500 feet over the 8-mile distance of the Blackwater Canyon, the Blackwater River has carved a beautiful story into the hundreds of million-year-old Allegheny Mountains. After leaving the park it flows into the Cheat River, which is known for its tubing and whitewater trips, and then merges into the Monongahela before becoming the Ohio and eventually the Mississippi.

Blackwater falls in late June
The boardwalk to the falls consists of more than 200 steps down. Don’t forget you will need to return by climbing back up them!

Elakala Falls

Behind the Blackwater Resort within the park is a short trail to Elakala Falls. Elakala Falls is on Shays Run, shortly before it enters the Blackwater River. Though there are a series of falls on Shays Run, we only followed the path to the first, most accessible one. At 35 feet, it is considered the second most popular fall in the park.

Elakala Falls

Lindy Point Overlook

Lindy Point trailhead

For our final stop of the day, we drove to the western end of the southern side of the park. Located here is the trailhead for Lindy Point Overlook. This was another short trail with a big payout. For just under half a mile we walked a path through thick mountain laurel and rhododendrons, some of them in bloom! Most of the path was packed dirt but in some softer areas, a boardwalk had been installed.

Mountain Laurel and Rododendrens in bloom along the path to Lindy Point

The walk was short enough that we carried a picnic super to the overlook. We took our time at the end soaking in the views, the company, and the endless green expanse in front of us.

The view from Lindy Point

Here, at our last stop in the park, amidst an impossible amount of green, it is difficult to think that these mountains and this gorge have ever looked any different. But what I have found in my travels is that a changing environment is the norm, not the exception. In the 1800s, Tucker County West Virginia was heavily logged and mined. By the early 1900s, the ridges were clear-cut to the point of constant burning and total erosion of the topsoil. This short-sighted use of the land was put to an end in 1920 with the creation of the Monongahela National Forest and Blackriver State Park was created within this boundary in 1937. Today, the area sees an increase in interest from nature-centered tourism and for this I am grateful. What man can destroy, man can also learn to protect.

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Kayaking Bear Lake

Check out this quiet lake with a navigable outlet in western New York!

How to get to Bear Lake

Bear Lake is the smallest of the 5 lakes located in Chautauqua County. It also has a shoreline that is bordered mostly by undeveloped wetlands. This beautiful, quiet setting is perfect for a kayak trip!

Sign marking the parking area for the boat launch

To get to Bear Lake, travel north of Stockton, New York on Rt 380. After about 1.5 miles, veer right onto Bear Lake Road as Rt 380 turns left. Bear Lake Road turns left after about 1 mile and the parking lot will be visible on the left as you begin to see the lake in front of you. Parking here accommodates 10 vehicles.

Walkway and kayak launch

From the parking area, there is a very short paved walk to the launch. The new launch is accessible and very easy to use. After launching, we paddled by some lake front cottages along a narrow passage before the lake opened up before us.

Bear Lake is a kettle lake which means it formed at the end of the last ice age when a large block of ice melted over the area. According to the DEC website the average depth is only about 15 feet but the lake provides excellent habitat for a variety of fish.

What we enjoyed most about kayaking Bear Lake was exploring the undeveloped wetlands surrounding the lake. At around 140 acres with 2.5 miles of shoreline, it was the right size for kayak exploration. We could see it all without a lot of other boat traffic. Motor boats are permitted and many of the houses had pontoon boats docked there, but we saw only one motor boat with a water skier during our outing.

Heading toward the outlet

Our favorite part of the adventure was exploring the outlet. It was thick with water lilies and ended at a beaver dam. There were lot’s of birds to listen to and as it twisted and turned it made you wonder what was around each bend.

We spent about 3 hours on the water. The time passed quickly, it was one of those activities where one is completely present in the moment. Pure bliss.

Beaver dam on the outlet

All good things come to an end, but this is an adventure that I will seek out again for the peace and tranquility it offers.

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Ludington State Park, Michigan

Lake Michigan shoreline

This park was gorgeous! Immaculate sandy beaches, naturally scenic dunes, a classic lighthouse, and nearly unlimited recreational activities….this park had it all. Wedged between Lake Michigan and the 5000-acre Hamlin Lake, this park is Michigan’s best. We spent a day here on a summer trip to Michigan’s western coast but this is an area we will definitely return to. Here is what we found to do!

The Beach

The main entrance to the park can be found at the end of Michigan Rt 116. From there we veered left and headed straight to beach parking. Though there were plenty of spaces before 11:00 am, I imagine it fills up on a summer weekend.

Pristine lakefront just steps from the main beach area.

The Lake Michigan beach area had a bathhouse complete with restrooms, concessions, and interpretive exhibits. The best part of this beach though was the pristine shoreline stretching 7 miles up the coast of Lake Michigan. It was one of the most beautiful beach walks I have ever taken.

The kids spent the afternoon swimming in the lake and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sand. Parking was close enough to the beach area that we could leave coolers and extra tools in the van and just carry our beach chairs to the sand.

Hiking

As it began to cool down in the late afternoon, we decided to stretch our legs with a hike. Ludington State Park has over 20 miles of trails through forests and wetlands, over dunes, along beaches, and across boardwalks. We wanted to see Big Sable Point Lighthouse but didn’t want grumpy hikers, so we opted for the ROAD to the lighthouse, not the TRAIL to the lighthouse.

The road to Big Sable Point Lighthouse, accessible only by bike or on foot.

The packed gravel and sand-covered road to the lighthouse starts at the far left end of the Pines Campground. There is also a more strenuous trail over dunes with great views of Lake Michigan that begins in the Beechwood Campground area. The road is 1.8 miles one-way, the trail is slightly longer. You can check out a map of trails here before choosing the best one for you.

The road to the lighthouse passes several interdunal ponds. These areas were active with wildlife such as the Bald Eagle we spotted below.

It took us about 45 minutes at a leisurely pace to reach the lighthouse.

Almost to the lighthouse.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Built in 1867 and given its classic black and white paint in 1900, this lighthouse shown its light to mariners as far as 19 miles out. Restored in 1987 after a preservation association was formed, today it is a lovely building in a lovely setting.

At 112 feet, the Big Sable Point Lighthouse is one of the tallest in Michigan. Throughout the year, tours can be purchased and you can climb the 130 steps to the top or just shop the gift shop in the original keepers quarters.

Beach view from the lighthouse.

History

After visiting the park, I was curious about the history of Hamlin Lake. Not surprisingly, I learned that the area was originally purchased for logging interests, and the dam creating Lake Hamlin was originally erected to create a holding pond for logs. The area that is now Ludington State Park was once the short-lived village of Hamlin. In the mid-1800s, the area contained mills, boardinghouses, a schoolhouse, and many homes. In the late 1800s, after two dam breaks that washed many homes into Lake Michigan and the decline of the lumber industry, the village of Hamlin all but disappeared. The few buildings that remained were removed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s to make way for the new state park.

Like my recent visit to Hume Lake in Kings Canyon National Park, I was struck by how nature not only reclaimed an area that humans tried to dominate but how humans had also been altered in the exchange. When both of these areas were stripped of their trees and nature fought back, people changed their relationship with the land. They found recreation and preservation worthwhile and dominance and destruction were given up. May we continue to connect to the land and not dominate and destroy it.

So many reasons to return!

In addition to the activities we enjoyed during our day trip here, this park has so much more to offer. From biking trails and bike rentals to a whole separate beach area on Hamlin Lake and from fishing along the Big Sable River to kayaking and canoeing trails, this is a park that I hope to return to someday!

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Kings Canyon National Park

After a couple of days in Sequoia National Park (you can check out that post here), we drove north on the General’s Highway to check out Kings Canyon National Park. I wasn’t even sure if the road connecting the two parks would be open in April, so this drive was a bonus! In preparing for this trip, I read that snow can occur at any moment and can close portions of the road. Even though there was still plenty of snow at higher elevations, the road was clear and the temperatures were in the mid 70’s! Here is what we found to do!

The distance between the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park and Grant Grove and the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park is only 30 miles but the drive took over an hour. It was very scenic with pull offs for beautiful vistas and tall tree groves. If traveling between the two parks, make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the journey.

Grant Grove

Grant Grove is a must see in Kings Canyon National Park. It is also a great stop for food, souvenirs, restrooms. After checking out the aforementioned comfort stops in Grant Grove, the General Grant tree is the next stop to make. You can walk the roughly one mile trail from Grant village or drive to the Grant Grove lot. We chose to walk in order to stretch our legs. This might also be a better choice when the park is busier in the summer and parking is harder to find.

The General Grant Sequoia Tree. This is the 2nd largest tree in the world.

I really enjoyed Grant Grove. It was less crowded than the giant sequoia grove surrounding the General Sherman Tree. The General Grant tree is listed as the 2nd largest tree in the world by volume, though this is based only on the trunk. If the branches were considered, another tree found in Sequoia National Park would bump General Grant to third.

Also on this trail is the Fallen Monarch. It is an enormous sequoia that can be walked through and nearby interpretive signs show people have been doing this for a long time!

The Fallen Monarch

We headed further north until we reached the entrance to Cedar Grove. Being only April, this road wasn’t open yet but we were surprised to find the road to Hume Lake was and we decided to follow it. This was a great idea! After driving a short distance there were some pull-offs that lead to spectacular views of the canyon and the road to Cedar Grove.

The road to Cedar Grove from above.
The view into Kings Canyon

Hume Lake

After great views into the canyon, the road descended in elevation before arriving at Hume Lake. This lake was formed when a dam was built by logging interests in the area in the early 1900’s. Photos near the lake show what it looked like choked with logs. When logging ended and the surrounding area was reclaimed by nature, the lake became a destination for recreation. Today it is a fantastic place to enjoy kayaking, standup paddle boarding, or just some quiet reflection in nature.

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Visiting Lincoln’s Home in Springfield Illinois

Front door with replica of original nameplate on the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets.

Those who follow me know I love a road trip! Part of the fun and a way to break up a day of driving is to make interesting stops along the way. It is not the destination but the journey after all! After spending a night near Springfield Illinois, we were curious to see what the home of Abraham Lincoln looked like. Our curiosity took us to downtown Springfield. Here is what we found to do!

In 2020 and into 2021, the visitor center was closed. This means no indoor tours of the houses. However, we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was not just Lincoln’s home that was preserved, but a whole block. Not only could you see the homes as they were but there were boardwalk sidewalks and crushed stone streets. Along the way there were many interpretive signs with information about Lincoln’s time here. Hopefully, Covid-19 restrictions will lift soon but if you are driving through like we did, it is still worth a stop even with the visitor center closed. More information can be found at the NPS site.

Abraham and Mary Lincoln lived in this house for 17 years. They bought the home in 1844 from the reverend who performed their marriage ceremony two years earlier. It was a single story home at the time they purchased it and the Lincoln’s had just one child. They added the full second story seen today in 1856 to accommodate their growing family. We learned that the Lincoln’s had 4 sons here, but only one lived to adulthood. I reflected on the sadness the death of 3 children must have brought. I like to think that these early hardships helped to strengthen him for the difficult decisions he would make as president.

After an hour we were back on the road. We passed the Illinois State Capital building and continued on to St. Louis and the Gateway Arch. It was the perfect place to stretch our legs before the next leg of our journey.

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Kinzua Bridge State Park and Sky Walk

Imagine a tornado so powerful that it picks up steel towers, with a combined weight of over 6 million pounds, right off of their concrete supports. This tornado then causes the supports to buckle under their own weight and crash into the ground. That is what happened to the Kinzua Viaduct in 2003. A century-old bridge was destroyed in 30 seconds.

View of the Sky Walk from the trail below.

The Kinzua bridge viaduct was completed in 1882 and at the time was the highest railroad viaduct in the world. As trains got heavier after 1900, it became necessary to rebuild the entire iron structure out of steel. As freight traffic declined, its use was discontinued. In 1963 it was repurposed as a state park. Through the the 1980’s and 1990’s it carried excursion trains through the Allegheny National Forest. In 2002, it was determined that the rusted steel was in dire need of repair, the bridge was closed to all traffic, and restoration began soon after. In July of 2003, a tornado with wind speeds reaching 112 mph, struck the side of the Kinzua Viaduct. Eleven towers were torn from their concrete bases and thrown to the valley floor. Throughout all this, the structure and the vision of its creators prevails. Today, park visitors can walk on the tracks, view the beauty of the valley below, and glimpse the power of both nature and the human spirit. Though changed in nature, the Kinzua Viaduct is reborn.

I have visited this park several times, the first of which was on a scenic train trip across the bridge when it was still intact. Today, this is a wonderfully scenic stop in Northwestern PA. Follow along to see what we found to do!

Viaduct in Early Fall

My first visit after the Sky Walk opened was with 4 small kids in September of 2015. We didn’t hike the trail all the way down to Kinzua Creek, but we did enjoy the Sky Walk with its glass floor observation deck!

The wooden Sky Walk, with the rails still intact, extends just over 600 feet over the Kinzua Valley.
Views from the Sky Walk showing both the beauty and power of nature.

Viaduct in Summer

When the kids were a little older, we returned as a family to check out the newly opened visitor’s center and hike the roughly 1-mile roundtrip trail into the gorge. The visitor’s center had fantastic exhibits on the history of the bridge, the tornado that tore it down, and all the engineering feats in between! It also had restrooms and a gift shop. Outside near the parking area, a food truck is often parked, and picnic tables are plentiful.

The kids a little bit bigger now, we retraced our steps from a few years earlier.
We enjoyed the view from the top then started the descent into the valley.
Views of the Sky Walk from the trail to the Kinzua valley.

Viaduct during peak Fall color

For my most recent visit, a friend and I tried to hit peak fall foliage. We visited the park on October 3rd. Considering my day job requires me to be an adventure travel weekend warrior, we may have missed peak by a couple of days. But is was still gorgeous!

We arrived before the crowds on a beautiful fall day and watched the fog lift over the valley.
The view from 225 feet up!
Views of the Sky Walk along the trail.

The first weekend of October is probably the busiest of the year. Getting an early start helped with avoiding the crowds. It is also a pretty steep descent, so make sure that you are wearing appropriate shoes if you continue from the observation platform all the way to the creek.

Views from the bottom of the trail before heading back up.

Once back up at the top, the sun had come out in full force. We walked to the end of the Sky Walk one last time to see the foliage in full sun. Then headed out as the park began to fill up.

The view as we walked back up the trail.
One final look.

Directions to the parking area and visitor center can be found here.

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Indiana Dunes National Park

The view from the top of Mount Baldy in 2011.

One of American’s newest National Parks, Indiana Dunes National Park was established by an act of congress in 2019. This made it the 61st national park in the country, but Indiana Dunes had been managed by the park service since 1966 when it was dedicated as a National Lakeshore.

We have visited this park twice, once in 2011 and again in 2020 after it had gained National Park status. Here is what we found to do!

Hiking to the top of Mount Baldy and getting ready to hit West Beach on a family trip in 2011.

Both trips were just an afternoon spent at the beach as a stop on the way to traveling somewhere else. I really try to make the most of a road trip by taking advantage of the journey en route to the final destination. In 2011, the trail to the top of Mount Baldy, the park’s largest dune was still open to the public, so of course, we had to climb it! Today, the summit can only be reached on a ranger-led tour, stop at a visitor center in the park for more information.

Though less than a mile in length, a sandy trail can be difficult to walk in. The children collapsed at the top of Mount Baldy.

On our more recent visit in the summer of 2020, we headed straight for West Beach. We had stopped here on our previous visit and thought it would make a great place for a picnic supper and walk to stretch our legs.

Welcome signs then and now.

After dinner in the picnic area near the parking lot, we headed to the beach via the Dune Succession Trail. Information about the trail, as well as a map, can be found on the National Park Service website here.

Stairs at the start of the Dune Succession trail.

Some of the difficulty in climbing over a sand dune is mitigated by wooden boardwalks and stairs. The entire loop was just about a mile in length with the most difficult climb being right at the start.

Looking back at the trail we just climbed.

At the crest of the dune, the stairs give way to sand and views of lake Michigan appear.

The boardwalk then returns to ferry you to the shore of Lake Michigan. Along the trail there is evidence of all stages of dune development in reverse. Part of the trail walks through a forest of Jack Pine. Closer to the water, there are Oak and Cottonwood trees becoming mixed with grasses and then finally the sandy shores.

After admiring Lake Michigan for a bit, we walked back through the park beach house to a paved path back to the parking lot, enjoying more great views along the way.

With beaches, biking trails, miles of hiking, and so much more, Indiana Dunes could be a whole vacation destination. Just as great though, is seeing this spot as a stop for a few hours of playtime when passing through northern Indiana. I encourage you not to overlook it. It is a great stop to have a picnic meal, take a quick dip in the lake to cool off, or watch the sunset before getting a hotel for the night.

Life is a journey, after all, not just a destination. Find joy whenever you can.

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The Wild Center in Tupper Lake

I love any organization with a conservation message and The Wild Center is a perfect example. Their mission is “to ignite an enduring passion for the Adirondacks where people and nature can thrive together and offer an example for the world.”

I had wanted to visit The Wild Center for a while, but being 7 hours from my home, it was a bit far away for a weekend trip. We took advantage of a February break from school and visited in winter. I thought we might be missing out on some of the summer novelties by going in winter and due to ongoing Covid-19 precautions, all indoor attractions were closed, but there was actually plenty to do! The Wild Center is located just outside the village of Tupper Lake, you can find it here.

We booked tickets online in advance. This gave us a window of time to arrive so that there were no crowds. The first activity we tried out were the kick sleds. Set up around the back of the building were several looping trails. The kick sleds were kind of like dog sleds without the dogs, the kids loved them.

Trying out a kick sled.

Set up on the frozen pond next to the kick sled trails were ice fishing holes. A member of the Wild Center staff was also on hand to hand out fishing equipment, bait, and answer questions! We didn’t catch anything, but we learned a little bit about ice fishing.

Ice fishing

After ice fishing, we headed out to walk through the forest on the Wild Lights Forest Music trail. This part of the park had trees wrapped in colorful lights, ice sculptures, and atmospheric music. It was my favorite part of the park.

Wild lights forest music

The park really had a lot to offer winter adventurers. We saw otters playing in their winter habitats. There were some captive birds of prey on display and even an elusive porcupine. We spent time in front of an outdoor fire and reclined in Adirondack chairs made entirely of ice. The last attraction we checked out was the Wild Walk and this proved to be the favorite activity for the kids. It was also lit up and open after normal closing hours as part of the Wild Lights special event that was going on during this February break and throughout select winter weekends.

The Wild Walk
Replica eagle’s nest on the Wild Walk
View from the Eagle’s nest.

We all squealed as we tried to stay upright on the giant spider web.

Trying out the Spider’s Web on the Wild Walk.

So if you are in the Tupper Lake area, follow our example and visit the Wild Center where you can see for yourself the connections between people and nature and maybe even take a little bit of the Wild Center spirit home with you.

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