The Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico is home to stunning scenery, vivid blue skies, and an abundance of hiking trails. Each time I visit New Mexico, I am reminded why the state is known as the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico is home to a range of stunning landscapes from high plains and…
Illinois is home to picturesque Midwestern landscapes. Known as the Land of Lincoln and the Prairie State, Illinois is generally known for its agricultural land and gently rolling landscapes. However, Illinois is also home to a wide diversity of landscapes, from savannas and oak woodlands and wetlands and remnant prairies. The Des Plaines River trail provides…
Wisconsin is a state of diverse landscapes. Home to rolling hills, remnant prairies, sparkling lakes, cathedral pines, agricultural land, bluffs and rugged terrain, and shorelines of two of our beautiful Great Lakes, Wisconsin has scenic views in every corner of the state. One of the best ways to enjoy Wisconsin’s scenic landscapes is through biking…
The state of Wisconsin is home to scenic landscapes, in part formed by receding glaciers of the last Ice Age. Rolling hills, remnant prairies, sparkling lakes, pine forests, and agricultural land are common throughout the state. One of my favorite ways to explore the state is by bike on one of the state’s many picturesque rail…
Have you ever wanted to immerse yourself in an environment that looks and feels like a foreign planet? To visualize hundreds of thousands of years of geologic time in one place? If your answer is yes, I highly recommend a visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Located at the base of the Sangre de…
Have you visited Michigan’s stunning Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore? Along Lake Superior’s southern shore, beautiful 50-200 foot sandstone cliffs line the shore for over 15 miles.  These sedimentary sandstone cliffs are composed of minerals such as iron oxide, copper, manganese, and limonite deposited during the Precambrian and Cambrian periods. As groundwater drips down the face…
Market Season is here in the Great Lakes region! Are you looking for a vibrant farmer’s market with fresh, seasonal produce, sweet treats, arts and crafts, fresh artisan breads and cheeses, live music, all with the backdrop of one of our beautiful Great Lakes? HarborMarket, in Kenosha Wisconsin, is the place to be along Lake…
Paddling season is here in the Great Lakes region! One of my favorite summer paddles in southeastern Wisconsin is Lulu Lake. Located in Walworth County, Lulu Lake State Natural Area was designated a State natural area in 1977. The Lulu Lake State Natural Area is jointly managed by the Nature Conservancy and Wisconsin Department of…
Marquette Michigan, located on the southern shore of Lake Superior, is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Home to 20,000+ residents, the city is historically known for the shipping of iron ore through the Marquette Iron Range. Large vessels regularly pass through the ports of Marquette. This historic city on Lake Superior’s…
Who doesn’t LOVE SPRING? As the winter transitions to spring, new life emerges. Birds begin to nest, trees and shrubs begin to bud, and my personal favorite – native spring wildflowers begin to emerge. Spring ephemerals emerge in early spring before the leaf canopy has filled out, here for us to enjoy only for a…
