Attractions

Fall Reflections at Walden Pond

Boston is known for its Revolutionary history. And the town of Concord just a short ride out of the city was host to one the war’s most famous battles. But some revolutionary thinkers took up residence there long after the fight for Independence was won. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott were famous authors from Concord. But their friend and neighbor, Henry David Thoreau, gave us books as well as a slice of nature to be preserved for future visitors to experience just because he decided to spend a couple of years living in simplicity on Walden Pond.

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Olivine Pools

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

Last week I wrote about a hike we took while on the road to Hana, upon a recommendation by Maui Revealed. We also followed their recommendation and explored the fascinating, natural Olivine Pools on Maui’s upper West coast, the best natural swimming pool on Maui.

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by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Georgia swelters in the summer. Its relentless sun and drenching humidity can suck the breath out of even the heartiest of souls. Fortunately Black Rock Mountain State Park, at an altitude of 3,640 feet the highest state park in Georgia, provides a convenient getaway whenever the heat becomes too oppressive.

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeastern corner of Georgia, the park is named for sheer gneiss cliffs that thrust through high forests to peer down at the valley floor. Four scenic overlooks; the Nantahala, Blue Ridge, Black Rock, and Cowee, provide eighty mile vistas of the Southern Appalachians, while miles of scenic trails meander through pine forests and past cascading streams.

View from the Blue Ridge Overlook

The Ada-Hi nature trail, the shortest in the park, descends through hardwood forest to a moist cove, ending at a 35 foot-tall waterfall that can become a raging torrent during the spring rains but often dries out entirely at the height of summer. Black Rock Lake Trail provides access to fishing sites on the 17-acre lake found within the Read More »

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

After many days in a hotel, on a beautiful beach, believe it or not, we were ready to explore the island of Maui. With the help of my favorite Hawaiian guide book, Maui Revealed, we hit the Road to Hana, intending to find a nice waterfall hike. And boy, did we ever!

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by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Lost River. The name conjures up images of an adrenaline-pumping, breath-holding Disneyesque ride. And in a way, it is. But Lost River is no theme park; it is a natural gorge that was carved ten thousand years ago by a glacier that covered this area of New Hampshire. As it receded, the glacier blocked drainage through Lost River Valley, creating a chasm at least 50 feet deep.

Wooden boardwalks, stairways, and bridges scramble over boulders and torrents of falling water on the way to the bottom of the gorge

The melting water carried sand and small stones, acting like a giant sandblaster, carving and smoothing the sides of the gorge. Over the eons, the smooth rock walls lining the gorge fractured from the cycle of winter freezes and spring thaws. Huge chunks of the rock broke off along joint lines and fell haphazardly into the gorge, creating a series of “caves.” Read More »

View of the Golden Gate Bridge

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

When I went to check out Sutro Baths last week, I finally found Land’s End, and it is way more interesting than I ever expected!

Entering the Coastal Trail from the Point Lobos parking area, Land’s End is along the trail on the western side of San Francisco. The first thing I noticed is how accessible the trail is. In addition to being stroller friendly, the path also looks smooth enough for wheelchairs and walkers.

Land's End Trailhead

Volunteers have been working on trail reconstruction, and it really shows. Native plants are being restored and labeled, trails are delineated, and the whole place is being spruced up. Signs are easy to read and paths easy to follow.

Native California Poppy

I walked up the path until I reached the first curve, where to my surprise, the Golden Gate Bridge stretched out in front of me. Not quite as close as visiting from Strauss Point or Fort Point, but on a clear day, the view is beautiful.

Coast of California

If you are feeling ambitious, the trail connects the Cliff House to Eagle Point, around by China Beach.  With some shade, it is a beautiful walk in the spring, and remains so through the warmer summer months.

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Perhaps even more than gorgeous beaches, bronzed surfers, and swaying palm trees, the image most associated with Honolulu is Diamond Head Crater, so it is no surprise that its unmistakable profile is immediately recognizable to most visitors the moment they set foot on Waikiki Beach. What does surprise many, however, is that it is possible to climb to the top of this extinct volcanic cone.

Aerial view of Diamond Head Crater, courtesy of Bill D'Agostino at http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamdag/256593314/

The 0.8 mile switchback trail to the summit climbs the inside slope of Diamond Head, ascending 560 feet from the crater floor. Although the hike is is steep and moderately strenuous, it is well worth the effort as it provides a fascinating glimpse into the geological and military history of Diamond Head. When the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898, harbor defense was one of the first concerns and Diamond Head’s elevation provided the best location for an outlook. In 1908 a trail was carved to the top, and by 1911 Fort Ruger had been built at the summit. Eventually, a 580-foot tunnel was dug through the crater wall to provide easier access to the Fort. Today, visitors drive through this tunnel, park inside the crater, and hike the very same path that was used to gain access to the Fort.

View of Diamond Head from overlook on Round Top Road, courtesy of Chad Podoski at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chadpodoski/217976946/

The trail begins as a relatively level improved concrete walkway but soon changes to a natural tuff surface with many switchbacks. All along the trail, interpretive signs explain that the crater was formed when the now extinct volcano exploded about 300,000 years ago. Ancient Hawaiians called it Laeahi, which translates to “brow of the tuna,” an obvious reference to its resemblance to the fish. It’s current name derives from British sailors who, in the 1800’s, believed calcite crystals found in the lava rock were diamonds.

Sketch of the hiking path courtesy of Dept. of Land & Natural Resources, Hawaii.

After passing a lookout point that doubles as a rest stop, the trail takes a steep upward ascent via two stairways (74 and 99 steps) and two tunnels. Upon emerging from the second tunnel, a shorter spiral staircase and a fourth set of metal stairs provides access to the observation deck at the very top, rewarding those who persevere with spectacular vistas to Waikiki in one direction, and to the leeward side of the island in the opposite direction.

View toward Waikiki from the top of Diamond Head, courtesy of dgrice at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgrice/390810021/

Climbing to the top takes between 1.5 and two hours and it can be a dusty, hot hike, so be sure to carry sufficient water, wear appropriate shoes, and use sunblock. The last entrance to hike the trail is at 4:30 p.m. and the gates are locked at 6:00 p.m. daily. Diamond Head State Monument opens at 6 am. each day and the entrance fee is $5.00 per car or $1 per person for pedestrians. Visitors to Oahu will discover the island offers a vertiable treasure trove of attractions and outdoor activities, as well as providing accommodations for all budgets.

Erwin Park in Collin County

When’s the last time you went for a walk in the park?

Our favorite spot to run free is Erwin Park in McKinney, Texas.

I love stories that are centered in small towns with romance or mystery at the
“old swimmin’ hole.”   I imagine tire swings and skinny dipping.  Have you ever gone skinny dipping?

Ahem.

The most amazing historic watering hole I’ve ever seen is just outside Austin, Texas at the Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve.  It is unique and amazing, I promise.

Imagine a 1/4 a mile tricky trail, gorgeous hill country, a limestone canyon, a collapsed grotto, a clear natural pool and a 50-foot waterfall.

Wait, you don’t have to imagine it.  I have pictures!

Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve in Texas

The history behind this spot is impressive.  The canyon and grotto were formed by thousands of years of water erosion.  Prior to the 1800’s, Tonkawa and Lipan Apache Indians lived in the area.  In the 1800’s, Andrew Jake Hamilton’s brother owned the land.

Later on the land belonged to German immigrants to raise sheep and cattle.  This family, the Reimers, discovered the grotto and opened the land up for public use.

Eventually Travis County bought over 200 acres from the Reimers, and made this area a nature preserve.

You can swim, picnic, hike, study nature and go on tours in the Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve. It’s very rustic, very beautiful and a place you shouldn’t miss visiting.

Pets are not permitted, sturdy footwear is recommended, and sometimes they close it down due to high bacteria counts, so call 512-264-2740 before you head out there for swimming.  A daily permit is $8 per vehicle and $3 per bike or pedestrian. Their website has a virtual tour.

And while you’re there, if you happen to pen a novel centered around a watering hole and it becomes a best seller…please, name a character after me.

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Tourists flock to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to see its lighthouses and miles of beaches. Although these popular attractions are certainly worth a visit, there is a hidden Outer Banks that most people never see. Beyond the beach and behind the dunes lies a maritime forest eco-zone known locally as Nags Head Woods. For a number of years the Nature Conservancy has been purchasing large tracts of land in the area with the goal of preserving this fragile and rare environment.

At first glance, swamp ponds appear to be covered in slime, but the vivid green coating is actually millions of seeds

In the center of these acquired parcels lies the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods. Behind its tiny visitor center, miles of trails lead through marsh and swamp, climb to the top of dunes, and descend to the Sound – a wide, shallow body of water that separates the barrier islands from the mainland of North Carolina. Walking these trails provides a glimpse into a primeval, untouched landscape. Nags Head Woods is home to more than 300 species of plants, more than 100 species of birds, six species of freshwater fish, and 65 species of land vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, and mammals).

A prehistoric snapping turtle comes out of the woods in search of a mate

Eastern box turtles climb up on branches that protrude from the ponds to soak up the summer sun

A row of Canada geese alight on calm backwaters of the Sound during their annual winter migration

Fresh-water ponds lie in the hollows between the dunes. At first glance their surfaces appear to be covered in green slime, but upon closer inspection the slime proves to be millions of floating seeds. These ponds are home to nutria, snakes, enormous snapping turtles, and Eastern box turtles that climb onto tree limbs at the water’s edge to soak up the sun’s rays during the summer months.

On the Sound, Giant Osprey soar overhead in search of a fish dinner while waterfowl alight on the placid waters to rest during their annual migration. And at the end of the day, Nags Head Woods offers some of the most spectacular sunsets on the Outer Banks.

A typical summer sunset in the maritime forest of the Outer Banks

To reach the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods, take US Rt. 158 (Croatan Highway) to Ocean Acres Drive in Kill Devil Hills and turn west. The entrance to the park is on the left, a short distance after the pavement ends.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel