If you’ve never seen the stunning views at Bryce Canyon National Park, get ready for a breathtaking experience!
View from the rim at Sunset Point
I’d seen the rock formations called “hoodoos” at other parks in the American Southwest, but never so many clustered so close together.
And never with such spectacular views of the vivid red, orange, and white rock towers within such easy access to park visitors.
You don’t have to hike for miles to see the hoodoos – which is great news for families with smaller kids or people short on time.
The most spectacular views into the canyon are literally just steps away when you pull into the Visitor’s Center parking lot.
View of the descent via the Queens Garden Trail
Bryce Canyon National Park was a good stopping place on our springtime tour of southern Utah, and a place we were excited to visit!
Bryce is just a short, hour-and-a-half drive northeast of Zion National Park, so it would be an easy drive to get to our lodgings there at the end of the day.
In a perfect world we would have had a longer stop, but Bryce is on the smaller side for National Parks, so we were able to hit the highlights.
I literally couldn’t stop taking photos, because it was so beautiful – and I’ve included probably way too many of them here 🙂
Our half-day in Bryce Canyon was enough time for a 3-mile hike and stops at the most popular view points.
Here’s what we did, and info about some other trails and park attractions we’ll see on our next visit – maybe you’ll get some ideas for your visit, too.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I’ve had asthma and have been fighting asthma my whole life.
In spite of allergy shots and prescribed inhalers and pills, my asthma got worse every year.
Eco-friendly garden at Lake Crabtree County Park.
After a childhood full of midnight ER visits and college years laced with time in Intensive Care, I had complete respiratory failure as a young working adult, and spent several days unconscious on a ventilator.
After that event, the doctors could only advise that I take more daily medications and stay indoors in a controlled environment.
I realized then that the available asthma treatments would probably keep me alive, but would severely limit my life.
So, I moved across the country to escape the worst of my local airborne triggers – and got some breathing room 😉
Since then I’ve experimented with diet, exercise and supplements to find what might help reduce my symptoms and my use of most medications.
Through research plus trial and error, I’ve created a strategy that helps me breathe easier and stay healthy enough to do just about anything I want to do!
In this post I tell you about the vitamins and supplements available and the ones I’ve used – and mostly still use – that appear to help asthma.
For inspiration I’m also sharing more photos of beautiful places I’ve been able to hike, and beautiful plants and animals that haven’t made me wheeze 🙂
If you’re looking for additional (non-medical) ways to minimize or even eliminate asthma symptoms, maybe this strategy could help you, too!
Of course you should like how they look, and they should feel good when you try them on – but beyond that, what are the most important things to look for?
Meadow Trail at NCMA Park
Some boot features to consider:
Are they waterproof?
Do they have cushioned shock-absorbing heels?
Do they have grippy soles?
If your feet are wet or painful, you won’t be able to think about anything else – and might not even be able to complete your hike.
What you put on your feet is without a doubt your most important piece of hiking gear, so you’ve got to get it right!
Hiking boots or trail running shoes (not regular road running shoes) are your best hiking footwear options.
Aside from fit, one of the most important things to consider is what kind of trail you’ll be on, and how long you’ll be on it 🙂
The Shenandoah National Park is right on the edge of the areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.
That said, the Park is open and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!
Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.
Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.
Shenandoah National Park first opened to the public in December of 1936. It’s located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains, less than a half days’ drive from home for me.
Though I’ve lived in the area for more than 20 years, I’ve never had the chance to spend much time in Shenandoah – until this past summer.
Bridge over the trout stream at Rapidan Camp
With 200,000 acres of protected land, Shenandoah National Park has some of the best hiking in Virginia – and the entire mid-Atlantic region of the US – so you can imagine how excited I was to visit!
I had a great time exploring on my own, but the park hosts a variety of trails and attractions for everyone from expert hikers to families with small children.
Where is Shenandoah National Park?
Shenandoah National Park is only 115 miles from Washington, D.C., 95 miles from Richmond VA, and 250 miles from Raleigh NC.
That’s close enough for a great long weekend or longer family vacation, without getting on an airplane!
I allowed a week for my trip – 2 days for travel, and 5 whole days to explore 🙂
Signpost on the Green trail at the edge of the NCMA park.
The North Carolina Museum of Art Park has been a tremendous gift to the whole Raleigh community.
The park’s trails and open lawns, ponds and pools, larger than life outdoor art, plus the amphitheater and outdoor movie screen provide a beautiful open air gathering place for everyone.
NOTE: We were just named a local NCMA expert on ApartmentGuide.
I’ve gotten a lot of good use from the safe – and inexpensive – outdoor activities for kids the Museum Park has made available over the years.
From the time my daughter was in kindergarten through her college years – and even now as a young adult in the community – the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) and the Museum Park events and grounds have been a big part of both of our lives.
The trips are remarkable not just because of the destinations or the activities, but because of the underlying vision of the company for sustainable, ecologically friendly travel.
Helicopter rescue on a G Adventures hike in the Mont Blanc area.
G Adventures Beginnings
It all began in 1990 when a very inspired young man named Bruce Poon Tip returned from a backpacking tour of Asia, determined to share his vision of how to experience travel adventures in an authentic and sustainable manner.
G Adventures has custom-made travel adventures for everyone! (Click logo to go to the G Adventure website.
By offering adventure-craving travelers an affordable small-group alternative to crowded resorts and cruises, Bruce (G Adventures CEO) changed the way people looked at their holiday time.
What started off as a one-man show in 1990 has since grown to become the world’s largest adventure travel company with more than 2,200 employees in 28 offices worldwide.Continue reading Adventures For You!
Accumulated damage from years of dance, martial arts, high heels, various athletics and now a couple of decades and lots of miles of hiking means my feet hurt more often than they don’t.
Add metabolic aging of my feet now that I’m in my 50’s, and it’s a recipe for some VERY painful feet.
But I’ve found ways to alleviate my foot pain and prevent more injury so I can keep doing the active things I love!
But there are other things you can do to keep your feet happy beyond simply wearing good boots!
I love to be active outdoors and plan to keep on going for the long haul. That means investing effort in taking care of my feet and legs as much as I can.
These are some of my favorite tips to avoid or eliminate foot pain and keep your feet happy, healthy and ready for any adventure!
NOTE: Instead of illustrating this post with images of injured feet, I decided to share pictures of some beautiful things I’ve seen – while walking around 🙂
Over the years, I’ve found a few favorite tools for planning and booking travel in the US and around the world.
Most of my travel adventures have been in or close to National Parks or other incredible outdoor destinations.
View at Hanging Rock State Park
I focus on time spent in Nature, but there are also plenty of cultural and historical sights to see!
For your convenience, I’ve included links to my favorite travel companies, and some blog posts about trips I’ve taken with them.
Some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will receive a small payment at no additional cost to you. I do not get paid for recommendations, all opinions on this site are my own. See full Disclosure page here.
Travel Destinations USA
The average American spends 87% of their time indoors, 6% of it in a car, and just 7% of their life outdoors.
Taking the ferry away from Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
Adventure Travel
There are a couple of companies that I rely on when I want to go on hiking/adventure trips outside of the US.
Though I’ve arranged all of the details for many trips on my own, it’s much more convenient – and usually less expensive – to have the help of an experienced team in my destination country.
They take care of getting transfers, hiking permits, lodging, renting any necessary equipment and engaging trail guides – which can be tricky, especially when traveling in a remote area.
Hiking Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park
Adventure Travel Companies
If you have multiple flights and other transfers to reach your destination, it can be really confusing – especially if you don’t know the language!
It’s good to have someone on the ground to help you navigate the potential pitfalls that come with the mechanics of getting where you want to go.
There are two companies I’ve traveled the most with for guided trips. They’re both great companies, which is why I keep going back to them!
View of the crater on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand
G Adventures
I’ve got special regard for G Adventures because I’ve taken so many wonderful trips with them. They’re very eco-friendly and always have great discounts available.
Me at Machu Picchu – can’t believe this was 15 years ago!
My first trip with G Adventures was back in 2004, to hike and see ancient sites on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and my most recent was in 2020 (right before the pandemic) to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand.
G Adventures offers vacations for solo travelers, couples, and the whole family, too.
NOTE: After March 31, 2023, GAP no longer requires all travelers to show proof of COVID vaccines & boosters or provide a Medical exemption to travel with them on any tour, but you can find an “all vaccinated” tour if you want one.
Intrepid Travel provides expert group leaders and take care of all of the necessary permits and transfers for all of their trips, including entrance to any National parks abroad.
I’ve hiked the Isle of Skye in Scotland and cycled in Tuscany with this company, and much more. They were great!
They also offer some really good discounts on Last Minute travel.
NOTE: After March 31, 2023, Intrepid no longer requires all travelers to show proof of COVID vaccines & boosters or provide a Medical exemption to travel with them on any tour.
Hiking in Northern Spain.
Travel Resources
For me, the most stressful part of a trip is getting to my destination and getting back home.
With flight cancellations, close connections, and carry-on rules changing for each flight, just navigating the airlines is enough to make you stay at home!
Returning to Puerto Natales from Torres del Paine.
Getting in the TSA Pre-Checkline for flights in the US can help smooth the process.
Just go to their site, fill out the form, pay the fee and bring your ID to a quick in-person meeting and you’ll get your TSA Pre-check account number.
With TSA Pre-Checkyou won’t have to remove your shoes or unpack your laptop while going through airport Security – this is very important if time is tight and you’re wearing hiking boots!
A Guide To Enjoying National Parks
I write a lot about the individual hikes I’ve taken in the wonderful National Parks across America, but pretty much leave the descriptions of the parks themselves to the Park websites.
Wayside previews of the park on the way into Bryce Canyon National Park
A friend from the National Parks shared this Guide with me recently, and I thought I would pass it on to you!
The US is home to 62 national parks, and I’ve visited a bunch of them. But if you want to read about them ALL go here:
Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, and the rest followed, up to New River Gorge National Park, which was dedicated less than a decade ago.
Dark Hollow Falls in Shenandoah National Park
Other Helpful Travel Sites
The Ledge trail at Pilot Mountain
The resources below help me keep everything organized with detailed itineraries, and usually provide some good discounts, too:
Travelocity– I use them mainly for researching and booking flights. This is great because you can see flight options from many different airlines and from different airports. If you book rental car and lodging along with your flights, you can get some really good deals.
Crystal Travel – Some great discount flights and other travel deals.
Booking.com– Great for booking hotel rooms and comparison shopping. The more you book with them, the better deals you get. Also, most bookings are cancellable and don’t require a deposit.
Cozycozy.com– Look for a room with Cozycozy for your next hiking trip – they’re sure to have a place near the trail that suits you!
City Pass – Discount Activity Passes for specific destination cities, you get great discounts on multiple local attractions!
Sightseeing Pass – Sightseeing Passes give you access to activities and services for a discount. Passes are available for: New York City, New Orleans, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Nashville, Orlando, Miami, Key West, and more!
Trail marker on the Pacific Crest Trail near Big Bear CA
From the moment I heard the phrase “llama trekking”, I was hooked. I love to hike – and who doesn’t love a llama??
Even better, when you go llama trekking at Divine Llama Vineyards, there could be wine involved 🙂
Divine Llama Vineyards is equally famous for its wine and for the Llama Treks they host together with their neighbor, the Four Ladies & Me Farm.
I stopped by for a visit one afternoon after a day of hiking at nearby Pilot Mountain State Park. It’s so close, you can see the mountain from the vineyard, and they’ve put Pilot Mountain on their label.
Pilot Mountain State Park views from the top are especially spectacular when the Fall colors come out! It’s a great place to take a family trip any time of year, with miles of trails, camping, climbing, canoeing, and lots of Ranger programs.
I’ve been visiting this park for many years, first with my daughter when she was young, and later with hiking friends or on my own.
View from the Ledges trail
Like the rocky escarpments in nearby Hanging Rock State Park, Pilot Mountain is a remnant of the ancient Sauratown Mountains.
In fact, the Sauratown Trail, a 22-mile (30 miles with spurs) trail for both hikers and equestrians, crosses the range and interconnects the two state parks.
This is a hike I’ve been dreaming of tackling for a while now – you’ll hear all about it when I do!
Perfect for Day Trips
Map of NC State Parks within an easy drive of Winston-Salem
Several NC State Parks are just far enough away to be special trips but still close enough to make good day or weekend trips from the Raleigh area.
Pilot Mountain SP is an easy 2.5 hour drive from Raleigh, so you can easily get there, hike all day and still make it home before bedtime – especially on longer summer days. Of course, if you live in Winston-Salem it’s an even shorter trip 🙂
Every time I visit, there’s something new to see, and the view from the summit never loses it’s charm.
If you want to spend more time to thoroughly explore the park and visit local attractions like Horne Creek Farm or Divine Llama Vineyards, you’ll need to find a place to stay.
There are camping sites and canoe-in camp sites available in the park. You can reserve a campsite on the ReserveAmerica site.
If your feet are wet or painful, you won’t be able to think about anything else – and might not even be able to complete your hike.
