Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to exploring Columns of the Giants along Sonora Pass Highway 108 in the Sierra Nevadas of CA. Hiking this family friendly trail is one of my top things to do on a road trip through Stanislaus National Forest. The short paved path takes you over the Middle Fork Stanislaus River to basalt rock formations formed by volcanic and glacial activity long ago.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Pohono Trail to Inspiration Point in Yosemite National Park. Inspiration Point and Artist Point are great alternatives to Tunnel View if you want to avoid crowds. This is a moderate hike and overlook spot to see El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, and the Yosemite Valley. Photographers enjoy this viewpoint for sunrise and sunset.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to driving the famous 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea on the Monterey Peninsula in central California, this scenic drive one of the best things to do along the central coast. Each stop provides beautiful coastal views, such as the Spanish Bay Beach, Bird Rock, Crocker Grove, Pebble Beach Golf Links, and Lone Cypress Tree.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting each viewpoint along Desert View Drive in Grand Canyon National Park. Driving to these overlooks is one of the best family friendly things to do in Grand Canyon. Stops include Navajo Point, Desert View Watchtower, Lipan Point, Shoshone Trail, Duck on a Rock Viewpoint, Pipe Creek Vista, Moran Point, Yaki Point, and Grandview Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel, CA. Located near Monterey and Big Sur, this California State Park contains multiple hiking trails that take you along bluff tops, turquoise waters, and abundant wildlife. Some of the top things to do is to see the Whalers Cabin, China Cove, Sea Lion Point, Bird Island, and Cypress Grove Trail.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the Lowell Historic District in Bisbee, AZ. One of the popular things to do in Arizona is walking down Erie Street, lined with vintage cars, antique signs & old buildings. Lowell is located just south of Old Bisbee and the Copper Queen Mine near the Lavender Pit. Stop for food at the Bisbee Breakfast Club, one of best restaurants in Bisbee.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking to Partington Cove along the central California coast. This short hike is one of the top things to do in Big Sur and leads to a cove with turquoise waters through coastal redwoods and an old logging tunnel. The trail runs alongside seasonal cascade waterfalls that flow into the Pacific Ocean where there is beach access at Partington Point.
Read MoreBookmark this Complete Guide to Yosemite Waterfalls for your next visit to Yosemite National Park. In this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide, you'll learn about all the major waterfalls found inside the park, along with details on hiking trails, viewpoints, and best times of year to visit. Take a virtual visit along the Mist Trail to Nevada & Vernal Falls, and to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the trail to Wapama Falls in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. Located near the town of Groveland, this waterfall hike takes you alongside the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which was formed a century ago when the Hetch Hetchy Valley was flooded by the creation of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, providing water to the city of San Francisco.
Read MoreJoin me on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog today as we explore the current flood conditions in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River is flooding the Yosemite Valley and almost touching the Swinging Bridge and Pohono Bridge. Waterfalls, such as Bridalveil Fall, Ribbon Fall, Horsetail Fall, the Cascades, and Yosemite Falls are roaring and can be enjoyed from many popular viewpoints.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to seeing the Spring wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument just a couple hours north of Los Angeles, California. This is top spot to see a flower superbloom, look for wildlife, and bird watch, and is one of the best things to do in Bakersfield. Soda Lake is currently filled with water and the San Andreas Fault can be seen running through the park.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Bear Gulch Cave Trail to the Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park East in Central California. This easy to moderate hike takes you through a system of talus caves, and is one of the top things to do in Pinnacles. We'll encounter dark and wet conditions as we crawl and climb under large rocks to a large reservoir with reflective waters.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Desert Discovery Nature Trail in Saguaro National Park West in southern Arizona. Found in the Tucson Mountain District in the Sonoran Desert, this family friendly hike is short, easy, perfect for all ages and first time visitors. Along the loop trail we'll find the giant saguaros, cholla cactus, and all kinds of plants and animals.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the tallest trees, the oldest trees, and the largest trees in the world. The giant sequoias, the coastal redwoods, and the ancient bristlecone pines are all found in California, and this week I'm sharing my favorite places to go and hiking trails to see these trees up close, most of which are in state and national parks, forests, and monuments.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the Golden Gate Overlook in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Located in the San Fran Headlands, this popular viewpoint of the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the top things to do in the Bay Area because of the straight on views of the bridge and its access to hiking & biking trails, which take you beside old SF military ruins & beaches.
Read MoreRead this comprehensive Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Bisbee, AZ. Discover what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in this charming small town in the Mule Mountains of Cochise County. If you're planning a trip to southern Arizona, this complete guide will inform you about the top restaurants, activities, shops, art, museums, tours, hotels, and Airbnbs in this historic mining town.
Read MoreThere are some great places to see wildflowers in California right now. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel blog about hiking the Wildflower Loop Trail at WInd Wolves Preserve, located just north of Los Angeles near the Grapevine in Bakersfield, CA. The abundant rains have created lush fields at this Central Valley park, making it one of the top spots to see Spring wildflowers this year.
Read MoreThis week on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog we're partnering with B Active Bisbee, a family owned local business providing fun adventures & rentals in Southern Arizona. We'll be taking guided hikes, renting e-bikes, and learning about the rich history and art scene in this historic mining boomtown. This shop specializes in golf cart, hiking, walking, e-bike, and wine experiences in Old Bisbee.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Chiricahua National Monument in southern Arizona. Taking a road trip to the unique rock formations of the Chiricahua Mountains is one of my favorite things to do in Cochise County. Going to see these hoodoos is a great day trip idea from Tucson and Bisbee. Today we're hiking the Echo Canyon Grottoes Trail and to the Massai Point Overlook.
Read MoreSnow has fallen in Los Angeles and across Southern California with recent storms, so today we're exploring the winter scenes at Wind Wolves Preserve just north of LA near the i5 Grapevine. Visiting this park is one of the top things to do in Bakersfield, CA with the rolling hills, abundant wildlife, and miles of hiking trails. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for all the details.
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