I love the feeling of flying over a forest canopy while admiring the nature around me.
Well, I wasn’t exactly flying, but sitting in a harness and sliding on a long zipline is close enough.
And I wasn’t admiring nature too much as it was zipping under me way too fast, but I still loved every minute.
While visiting Denver, I decided to go on this zipline adventure with Denver Adventure and chose the 6-zipline adventure with a media package.
We usually zip by Camarillo on the way to Ventura or Oxnard, but I recently discovered that this small town deserves a visit.
You probably heard the name Camarillo in a few songs and seen it in a few movies. Sadly, its main claim to fame is the old State Mental Health hospital.
The beautiful State Hospital now serves as the campus for California State University - Channel Islands.
Nowadays, Camarillo is home to Premium Outlets, an Aviation Museum, a few historic ranches and churches, a winery, and a lot of parks.
At the age of 16, my family embarked on an epic journey from Kuwait to Spain and back. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery, historical sites, met friendly people, and encountered a few challenges along the way./p>
The tip, as intended, was a lot of fun – but it was also educational. I learned about different places and people, and most importantly, I realized that there is a vast world outside of my neighborhood.
This trip also ignited my wanderlust for everything new and adventurous.
Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolitan area with an amazing array of attractions and activities.
The best way to experience LA is by taking a walking tour through downtown, and surrounding areas, and then hopping on one of the Metro lines to places further away.
The best starting place for this walking tour is at Union Station, which is a transportation hub connecting LA with several major cities through Metrolink and with the whole nation via Amtrak.
Start your walk by visiting El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument and Olvera Street (Calle Olvera). It is a short walk from Union Station's Alameda street exit.
This historic district was first established in 1781 and used to be the center of Los Angeles during Spanish and Mexican rule. It is home to many historic buildings and statues.
Escondido Falls trail is a moderate hike with trees, a creek, and a nice reward at the end. When the falls are flowing, they are beautiful.
The waterfall has an easy-to-reach lower tier that is 50 feet tall and a harder-to-reach upper tier that’s 150 feet tall and stunning.
Expect to hike for 3.8 miles to the base of the falls with about a 400-foot elevation gain. Most of the trail is shaded and runs along a creek. Expect to cross the creek several times – some crossings are precarious – but this is part of the fun.
The trailhead starts at the intersection of PCH and Winding Way, where you will park in a very small parking lot.
The parking fee in 2022 is $12. The electronic pay machine is not working, so pay at an iron post next to the machine using checks or cash in an envelope – and post the receipt on your dashboard.
Fort Walton Beach is a small beach town located on the Emerald Coast with beautiful silver sand beaches and emerald waters. It is a major tourist attraction and gets very busy during the summer months.
If you plan to visit during those busy months, you need to make your reservations months ahead of time.
The weather in the Emerald Coast is warm most of the year, with a few rare cold days during winter. The last time it snowed in this area was in 1977.
While talking about Walton Beach, I am including Okaloosa Island, Ocean City, and Niceville because they are all interconnected.
The try-city area is surrounded by several Bayous, the Gulf of Mexico, lakes, creeks, and inland forests. While staying in Fort Walton Beach, we enjoyed visits to the beach, parks, major attractions like the Gulfarium, hikes in the forest, and great dining experiences.
When visiting San Diego, I always return to this waterfront Marriott resort for comfort and amenities.
The hotel is a short walk away from the Gaslamp Quarter, Convention Center, Seaport Village, and excellent waterfront dining and destinations.
The most important part of a hotel is the rooms, and they don't disappoint. The beds are comfortable with a couch and a desk, and the bathroom is well-appointed with fluffy towels, the TV is excellent, a coffee maker, a fridge, and the WiFi is dependable. What more can you ask for.
When I decided to visit Denver, the mile-high city, I expected to see forests, rivers, and snow-covered mountains, but I was disappointed when I landed.
Denver, at first glance, looked like any other major city in the USA, with urban sprawl, a city center with tall buildings, and a sprinkle of parks.
But my disappointment was short-lived as I explored this beautiful city and the Majestic Rockies a short drive away.
You can read more about Denver here, but this page is dedicated to the splendor of The Rocky Mountains National Park.
The park spans the Continental Divide and encompasses protected mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and alpine tundra.