Snowshoeing Horicon Marsh by Candlelight
Wisconsin's Horicon Marsh is one of the largest freshwater cattail marshes in the nation. Some 300 bird species have been spotted here, and the marsh is a popular migration pit stop for 250,000 of our feathered friends. Every January, the marsh hosts a candlelight...
Snowshoeing the Timm’s Hill Trail
The answer to a common trivia question in Wisconsin is Timm's Hill. That's the highest point in the state, at 1,951.5 feet. But many Wisconsinites think our highest point is Rib Mountain (1,923 feet), a popular skiing spot. As a hiker, here's what I love about Timm's...
Exploring Big Bend National Park
I didn't know much about Big Bend National Park until a recent travel writing conference took me to El Paso, Texas. As always, I wanted to squeeze in some prime hiking, if possible. What I discovered is that if I drove about 90 minutes north, I could hike at White...
Skiing and Snowshoeing at ABR
Many people say ABR is a funny name for a ski resort. I suppose that's true. ABR stands for Active Backwoods Retreat. And despite its unusual acronym name, USA Today readers rated it the fourth-best cross-country ski resort in the nation in 2019. That's pretty high...
Rock Climbing at Devil’s Lake State Park
Rock climbing never seemed enticing to me. That's not surprising, since I have a fear of heights. But then I learned two things. First, Devil's Lake State Park, near my home, is considered one of the best rock-climbing spots in the entire Midwest. And second, a...
Explore White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park got its prestigious national park designation in December 2019. From 1933 to 2019, it was a national monument. When I visited White Sands, I had a blast hiking around the park. But the most enjoyable experience by far was watching the sun set...
Become Part of The Nutcracker Story
The Nutcracker is one of America's endearing holiday traditions. An 1892 two-act ballet, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky penned its famous musical score. And the libretto, which is the text of an opera, was adapted from "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," a story by E.T.A....
Explore Málaga, One of Spain’s Most Popular Cities
I've visited Spain many times before, but never made it to Málaga. That's probably because on my second trip to the country, I fell in love with hiking the Vía de la Plata, or VDLP. The VDLP Camino is one of five main pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela,...
Hiking El Caminito del Rey, Once the World’s Most Dangerous Trek
When I first learned about El Caminito del Rey, I was incredibly intrigued. For this hiking path in southern Spain consists of narrow boardwalk attached to the sides of cliffs in many spots. Yikes! When I saw photos, it looked terrifying. Well, if you're afraid of...
Pickleball Is a Fast-Growing Sport
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in America today. The game, popularized by seniors, is now played by folks of all ages. Some colleges, universities and even high schools have teams and/or are teaching kids to play. The game is a combination of tennis,...
Wisconsin River Also a Dells Waterpark
The Wisconsin River churns through Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton as it winds throughout the state. And it's here, along a five-mile (8 km) stretch, that the river passes the incredibly beautiful "dells" formations that first attracted tourists to the area in the...
Hike through the Boundary Waters on the BRT
The Border Route Trail is a 65-mile (105-km) hiking trail that runs through the Boundary Waters. And specifically, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, or BWCAW, which lies between Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Many people canoe the BWCAW, but very few people...
A Crazy Hike Along the Arizona Trail (AZT)
The Arizona Trail, or AZT, is one of America's 11 National Scenic Trails. It runs from Arizona's border with Mexico due north to its border with Utah. During this northerly trek, the trail unspools nearly 800 miles (1,288 km), passing east of major cities such as...
Why Hiking Is Becoming So Popular
Everyone is hiking these days. Especially on long-distance trails. Hiking is surging in popularity not only across the U.S., but all around the world. Experts aren’t positive why this is happening, but believe one reason is the popularity of the book “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed.
Rim to Rim Hiking in the Grand Canyon
Some people dream of hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim. That is, hiking from its South Rim to its North Rim, or vice-versa. And some of these intrepid souls will eventually achieve their dream. I was once such a dreamer. I'd first read about people going "rim to rim"...
Exploring the Ice Caves at Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Ice caves abound every winter in Wisconsin's 8,600-acre Kickapoo Valley Reserve. That's because the reserve has an abundance of groundwater. And it's scarred with steep stream valleys, sandstone and limestone cliffs, and overhangs. Together, that's perfect for their...
