Great Outdoor Towns – Mammoth Lakes

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If you have spent any time reading my posts, it is easy to see that I have an affinity for Mammoth Lakes, CA.  I first came to Mammoth in the mid 1980′s as a ski instructor and immediately fell in love with the place.  For an outdoor enthusiast, the possibilities are endless.

Getting to Mammoth is relatively easy, but not quick.  By car, your only choice is highway 395 – but it is a remarkably scenic ride.  It’s about a 5 hour ride from the LA sprawl with the massive Sierra Nevada to the west and high desert to the east for most of the trip. I especially enjoy the ride in late afternoon timing sunset somewhere in the Lone Pine area.  It can be spectacular.  You can see Mt Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 on this drive, but it sort of gets lost Continue reading →

Zip Lining in Maryland

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Go Ape at Rock Creek Regional Park

You might say that I am a bit of a zip line junky.  After a great canopy tour in Costa Rica, I needed the thrill of some zip lining without the travel time and expense of going to a foreign country.  Happily, there are a good number of choices right here at home!

Go Ape is located just outside of Washington, DC and offers a fun diversion for canopy tour junkies.  Unlike my favorite local canopy/zip line tour – The Vertical Trek at Roundtop Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania (see my review here), Go Ape is Continue reading →

Hiking in Utah – Goblin Valley

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Goblin Valley State Park in eastern Utah is one of the most amazing places you’ve never heard of!  It features an expansive wash full of weathered sandstone sculptures that in certain light can look like otherworldly goblins – thus the name. If you find yourself travelling on I-70 through Utah, it is certainly worth the detour to check it out.  It is one of those places that you can see in an hour or two, but can explore for a lifetime. Continue reading →