Travel | kritterspix

North Oregon Coast

Posted on December 5, 2016 by kritterspaw

We’ve been up and down both East and West coasts. I’d be hard pressed to say which is more beautiful… so I won’t, because I can’t. They are both stunning. I love the rock formations jutting out from the ocean, trees overhanging the black sand, and sunsets on the beach. It’s all pretty awesome.

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Along the way there are quaint charming little towns, and different rock formations with individual names. There’s Haystack rock in Cannon Beach and Rockaway Beach, and a dozen others up and down the coast filled with State Parks and walking trails to fully enjoy it’s beauty.

Oregon does a great job sharing their beaches with the community and it’s visitors through lots of maps, brochures, hiking / biking trails, camping, and wildlife viewing areas. They invite visitors to share in it’s grandeur.

Columbia River Gorge

Posted on November 19, 2016 by kritterspaw

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The U.S. is full of scenic byways and highways and wondrous viewpoints. National Parks and Historic Monuments across the states preserve and protect these treasures, but few are more gorgeous or a testament to the need of such protection as the Historic Columbia River Highway.

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This historic highway was started in 1913 and finished in 1922 and is carefully woven between waterfalls and nature. It is truly Poetry in Stone as the architects and craftsmen sought to highlight and embrace this awesome scenery for the community and mankind.

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Unfortunately only short sections of this road are still drivable as modern technology made way for bigger ‘better’ highways, tearing down, covering up, and demolishing much of Oregon’s treasured past. Smaller sections are being restored to their original grandeur for hiking and bicyclist use to allow future generations to enjoy them.

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In 1986 advocates of the Columbia River Gorge sought to make this area the first and only National Scenic Area to preserve and protect this gorgeous environment.

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Twin Falls, IDAHO

Posted on November 15, 2016November 15, 2016 by kritterspaw

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Twin Falls, IDAHO is named after it’s two (twin) falls, Shoshone and Pillar Falls.

These falls have provided irrigation and hydroelectric power since 1905 through Milner Dam built across the Snake River. It’s a sight to behold in an otherwise unsuspecting area.

From the Archives: Luxembourg

Posted on November 5, 2016November 5, 2016 by kritterspaw

There are a lot of amazing places in the world. I happen to love our own backyard, as Arizona has so much to offer. But America is young compared to historic cities abroad that beam with history, architecture, and culture. I yearn for walking the cobblestone streets of Europe in any number of quant charming cities that exude character at every turn.

This post takes me back to a trip in 2007 to Luxembourg. I call these little segments of the past, From the Archives, but they feel like A Blast from the Past.

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Luxembourg is a small country, surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany. It has a strong financial sector and beauty abounds. It’s got both nature and medieval, yet modern at the same time. It’s often overlooked, but shouldn’t be.

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While I was in Luxembourg for business, it is definitely a place I would go back to just to explore and enjoy.

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Grand Canyon: North Rim

Posted on August 8, 2016August 8, 2016 by kritterspaw

Grand Canyon has been on my mind. I wrote a blog about the exciting new publication of my friend, Dave’s new book, A Year in the Grand Canyon…. https://kritterspaw.com

It reminded me of our own trip with Dave to the Grand Canyon, and camping at Crazy Jug Point, so I thought I would reminisce and resurrect some of my favorite pix.

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We were fortunate enough to benefit from Dave’s amazing knowledge of the Grand Canyon, as he shared his special spots with us and we chattered around the campfire.

It was a fantastic and memorable time. Hey, Dave… We should do it again! Can you fit us into your busy schedule?

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Peggy’s Cove

Posted on June 25, 2016 by kritterspaw

Anyone that knows us, knows that we love the water. We always find the water where ever we go (that and food markets, but I digress). Peggy’s Cove is a popular photography place with it’s iconic lighthouse and multitude of photographs littering the internet. So we figured it was our turn to experience it for ourselves.

We planned a trip to Nova Scotia that included both Cape Breton Island, Peggy’s Cove, and Lunenburg. Check out more here.

We found Peggy’s Cove to be fantastically picturesque. It was stunning to take in… almost like props were set there for photography. The iconic lobster traps, the colorful lobster boats, and rustic docks overlooking the bay. Wow!

The weather cleared for us for 2 full days when we were in Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg… then the fog rolled back in. It gave us just long enough to get some great sunset shots in this magical place.

I found the bay to be so much more picturesque than the lighthouse. But thankfully I was the only one who thought so, as I had the bay to myself while hoards of tourists climbed all over the lighthouse.

Arches National Park

Posted on April 6, 2016April 6, 2016 by kritterspaw

Arches, while aptly named with memorable arches to view and walk amongst, is so much more. It is multiple spires, hoodoos if you will, large canyons and seas of rock formations jutting out of the valley floor… and arches.

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Arches true colors shine at sunset when the colors turn a brilliant unreal orange-red.

The rock pillars radiate as if they were on fire, taking on an other worldly glow. It makes you stop dead in your feet just to take it in. It comes like a storm, lights up the world, then without pause or hesitation it disappears behind the horizon until it comes back tomorrow.

For me, I’m just happy to be witness to it’s grandeur and share in it’s awesome beauty.

Noguchi Gardens: Costa Mesa, CA

Posted on January 24, 2016January 24, 2016 by kritterspaw

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Continuing our efforts to gain new experiences in a familiar area, we read about this ‘place’ Noguchi Gardens. Now don’t think this is a Japanese Gardens kind of place to stroll through… it’s more of a courtyard between buildings outside of The Westin very near South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA.

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We went at dusk just before our dinner reservations in South Coast Plaza at ANQi. We loved the way the light played on the water and the ‘streams’ built into the flagstone courtyard for this modern take on a functional Zen garden.. It was very very spiritual and reflective. noguchi falls_Ssi.JPG

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Bosque del Apache

Posted on December 19, 2015December 19, 2015 by kritterspaw

Sometime when we are young we learn that birds fly south for the winter. So I’ve known that somewhere deep in the recesses of my mind, but haven’t really contemplated it or given it much thought.

Yet when we went to Bosque del Apache outside of Socorro, New Mexico that very principle is live and in your face. Thousands of sandhill cranes, white geese, canadian geese, and other waterfowl fly from Alaska – south, to Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge.

Even though it was a ‘light’ year for the birds flocking to Bosque, it was still a sight to see, watching these numerous birds of all different kinds spiraling into the ‘crane pools’.

We watched them early morning (6 am sunrise) and evening (5pm sunset) as they would ‘lift off’ and go to safe ground in the ‘crane pools’. During the day they would flock to the farm fields and feed off the grass. It was definitely good cheap entertainment.

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Lee’s Ferry / Vermillion Cliffs

Posted on May 31, 2015May 31, 2015 by kritterspaw

Lee’s Ferry is that desolate less talked about destination outside of Page. Everyone hears about Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon, but few are familiar with Lee’s Ferry. Lee’s Ferry is the launch point for Grand Canyon rafters.

It’s cliffs and buttes are part of the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument and Soap Creek area. We had intended to explore the area with our boat, but apparently the boat had other ideas and wasn’t up for the trip. So instead we did some hiking. Our dog, Journey, kept us from doing anything to strenuous which was fine.

The area is very cool with all it’s rock formations and boulder ‘art’.

Being in the middle of nowhere the stars were brilliant and picturesque. Next time we hope to take the boat and see Lee’s Ferry from an entire different perspective.