National Parking: Joshua Tree National Park

Welcome 2017!

I got a National Parks pass for Christmas and decided to start the year as I mean to go on.   Going on with more National Park visits, that is.    Joshua Tree is one of the closer National Parks to San Diego and I had not been there since 2002.  It was time to pay another visit.

National Park Passport - stamped!

Joshua Tree was named a National Monument in 1936 to protect the beautiful and unique plants in the park (special shout out to Minerva Hoyt - an activist who helped make this happen).   Prior to that, people were taking the trees to put in their yards in LA.   Joshua Tree became a National Park in 1994.     There aren't lodges or services inside the park, like you see in Yosemite or Yellowstone.   It's popular for camping, and there are different lodging options outside the park.   Palm Springs, Indian Wells, Coachella and Indio are within a one hour drive to one of the park entrances.

An Easy Two Day Adventure

My trip was very last minute and an easy two day adventure from San Diego.   I booked my hotel the day before and off I went.    A friend in Indian Wells met me for dinner at Eureka! and Wild Lights at the Living Desert Zoo and Garden.   She also put in her recommendation for buying dates at Shields Date Garden and epic sandwiches at TKB Deli.   A great way to start my new year!

"Hoppy" Hour at Eureka

The beautiful Hyatt Regency Indian Wells

The Living Desert 

Dare to learn!

This pic does not accurately reflect the
awesomeness of this sandwich

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park?

• Bring a LOT of water, sunscreen and layers.   This is the desert.   Even if it doesn't feel hot, it's very dry and there are not services within the park.  Dehydration will make you sad.   And sick. 
• The Joshua Trees themselves are only in the northern part of the park (Mojave Desert).   You'll see them right away at the Joshua Tree or 29 Palms entrances to the park.    If you enter at the Cottonwoods Visitor Center on the south side, closer to Indio, you'll need to drive about 27 miles through the park before you see a Joshua Tree.  
• The vehicle entry fee is $25.     Buy a National Parks pass for $80 and enjoy our parks all year.  If you are a senior, you can buy the Senior Pass for $10.  
• I wasn't there for sunset, but I heard they are epic!  

Other National Parks to Love:

Cabrillo National Monument

Hawai'i Volcanoes NP

Valor in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor  - Oahu

Haleakala National Park - Maui

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle

Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Colorado

Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming (home of my favorite summer job)

What National Park have you visited recently?

National Parking: Cabrillo National Monument

Is it just me, or did summer fly by?

August went so fast that between two trips out of state, a week long visit from Mom and the normal business of work, that I haven't shared my most recent adventure in National Parking.  

While Mom was visiting San Diego, we fully enjoyed being tourists together.    We went to an Elvis themed Steel Beach party aboard the USS Midway, sailed in the sun on a harbor cruise, sipped margaritas and beer, and jammed out at Bluegrass Brunch.    And that was just in the first 48 hours.

Steel Beach Party

Part of our weekend of exploring was our visit to Cabrillo National Monument.    Mom and I are always on board to watch educational videos in the visitor center.    One of the most interesting facts is that there weren't any paintings or drawings of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who was leading the expedition that explored San Diego Bay.       Why is that interesting?   Because there is a statue of him at the park and I'm curious who they based his likeness on  

Cabrillo NM has two main sections,   the visitor center, scenic lookout and Old Point Loma Lighthouse on the top and the tidepools at the shore.    It's an easy site to visit in 1-3 hours, depending on if you're doing any hiking or tidepool exploring or just taking in the views.    Word is you can see Pacific Gray whales during their migration from December through March, so that will be my cue to go back and visit.  

Views of the city and the bay

Looking good lighthouse!

Visiting Cabrillo National Monument?

• The park is only open during the day
• There are entrance fees for cars, cyclists and pedestrians
• The Bayside Trail and Tidepools close earlier than the rest of the park

Other National Parks to Love:

Hawai'i Volcanoes NP

Valor in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor  - Oahu

Haleakala National Park - Maui

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle

Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Colorado

Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming (home of my favorite summer job)

What National Park have you visited recently?

National Parking: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai'i has so many unique and beautiful places to explore.   I was excited to have a chance to island hop over from Maui to Big Island this spring to finally see it!

Compared to Maui, Big Island is exactly that...big.   Big roads, bigger distances, and stretches of highway where you can't see the ocean (gasp!).     We flew in and out of Kona so that we could fly Mokulele.     Hilo is the airport that's closest to the park, though.   

Friends who visited me in 2015 stayed at the Volcano Inn and recommended it, so that's where we stayed as well.   It's in a perfect location for hiking the park and for going back at night to see Kīlauea at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea Crater is an active volcano.   To see the glowing lava, you'll want to come back to the park at night.    During the day, its bright enough that you probably won't see anything, although you may smell it.   

Breakfast area at the Volcano Inn 

On the Kona side of the island, it's dry and hot.  If you are anywhere on the Hilo side of Big Island, you need to be prepared for rain.  At any time.   We hiked the Kīlauea Iki Trail and alternated between coats on /coats off, and hats on / hats off.   This hike is about 4 miles through the still steaming Kīlauea Iki Crater.   The visitor's center has a good video that shows the eruption in 1959.   

The Kīlauea Iki Crater from above

Part of the trail involves following the ahu.  There are stacked rocks that guide your way through the crater since the lava doesn't lend itself to an easily followed trail.  

You know what to do
Follow the ahu!

Rainforest all around the crater

Hiking into the unknown

After your hike, you're going to be hungry.   Good news, Ken's House of Pancakes is open 24 hours a day in Hilo.     Might I suggest corned beef hash eggs benedict?   Not pictured:  the pancakes with tropical fruit syrups that went with this.   But know that they were consumed with enthusiasm.

Heading to Big Island to visit Volcanoes National Park? 

• You'll be renting a car, so plan ahead.
• Volcano Inn has great rates, and partially because they don't take credit cards.  You'll need to mail your payment in advance to book your room.
• A 7 day pass as of June 1, 2016 is $20 per vehicle.   If you're planning to visit both Volcanoes NP on Big Island and Haleakala NP on Maui, you can by the Hawai'i Tri-Parks pass for $25 and that's good for a whole year.   
• Bring your beach clothes for the Kona side and your rain gear for the Hilo side.
• If you're driving the whole island, you'll definitely want to stop at the Punalu'u Bake Shop for lilikoi malasadas.    It's the southern most bakery in the United States! 

So ono!

Other National Parks to Love:

Valor in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor  - Oahu

Haleakala National Park - Maui

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle

Black Canyon of the Gunnison - Colorado

Mount Rushmore - South Dakota

Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming (home of my favorite summer job)

Hiking the Pipiwai Trail, Maui

Waimoku Falls
Pipiwai Trail

Happy August to you!

I'm not a parent, but I feel that back to school starts sooner and sooner.    Friends of mine here in Maui had students starting last week.  In July!

There are pros and cons of being a working adult.   Keeping my summer mindset past July is one of the pros.   

Back in May, almost 3 months ago now, I put together my summer fun list.   I've made some progress, including trips to Kauai and Wisconsin, as well as my first attempt at Stand Up Paddling (SUP) and enjoying an alcoholic hibiscus iced tea at Frida's Mexican Beach House.    

I recently added two more to the list:  Driving the Back Road to Hana and Hiking the Pipiwai Trail.   

The trail was the destination....the back road was the journey.

Last year when my family was visiting, we drove the official road to Hana, going from Paia to Hana Town.    If you want to be entertained, read Trip Advisor  reviews about the road to Hana.   People have so many  feelings.  It's their favorite part of their vacation.  They never want to do it again.   They do it every time they  come Maui.   It was a wasted day of their trip.  

The road to Hana, or the back road to Hana, isn't about Hana Town.   However, if you go to Hana, don't miss the Huli Huli chicken stand on the beach.  

The chicken in question

Yes to Aloha

The road to Hana is a journey.  It's an exploration of the beautiful island of Maui.    

The back road to Hana is road of mystery and superstition.  Primarily because of rental car contracts and rumors about the condition of the road.   The biggest issue with the back road is that you're far away from any towns or tow trucks if you have an emergency.     There are about 5 miles of on again off again paving with gravel and another few miles with really bumpy blacktop.    

What does the back road to Hana look like?

Windy roads...sometimes one lane

The other Maui wind  turbines that no one knows about

St. Joseph Church
They only hold services on months with 5 Sundays

Dramatic cliffs and black sand beaches

It's about a 2 hour drive from Kula, in upcountry Maui, to the Pipiwai Trail, in the Kipahulu section of Haleakala National Park.     You can buy a Hawaii annual parks pass for $25.  Otherwise, the private vehicle daily pass is good for three days and you can use it at the summit as well as Kipahulu.

The Pipiwai Trail sometimes gets the name of Bamboo Forest hike, since you're hiking through....wait for it...bamboo.

However, where I work, we refer to this hike, at mile marker 6.5 on Hana Highway, as the Bamboo Forest hike.   So you have options for your bamboo hikes.   Options are good.

The Pipiwai Trail is 4 miles total, out and back.   The trail is well marked, and you can tell where you shouldn't go based  on the red signs that say "don't go past this point."  

The first waterfall we came across on the trail wasn't in full steam here in July.   In fact, we saw some people hike this far, then turn around and go back.

 If you go back now, you miss the bamboo, bridges, boardwalk and Waimoku Falls at the end.

Bamboo and boardwalks

Maui, as always, is No Ka Oi (the best).    I'm glad I had this hike on my list.    I look forward to hiking it again.

Do you have a favorite Hawaii Hike?   

National Parking: World War II Valor in the Pacific - Pearl Harbor

Never Forget

World War II is a defining moment in our US History.  As our WWII veterans pass on, that history goes from stories told in person to something that is just in the history books.     World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Oahu, Hawaii, still has the living history:  veterans come to the monument to share their stories.   

I had the privilege to meet and hear the story of Delton Walling, who served on the USS Pennsylvania.  His military story starts before he even enlisted.  He had a bad finger from boxing and when asked how he would be able to get into the Navy, the doctor said to cut it off.   And he did.  

 I was there a few days before the 73rd anniversary of D Day in December.   Almost all of the USS Arizona survivors were coming.   But all is a small number  - the remaining survivors are all in their 90s.   Our tour guide for the day knew the veterans who visit and return annually by name and gets emotional when she speaks of them.

My grandfather served in the military during WWII in Europe.  He passed away before I was born, but as my mom and I were taking the boat over to the USS Arizona, she shared his story.   

So we don't forget.     

Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Pictures 

Mighty Mo - the USS Missouri

All sunken ships in the Harbor have a marking at the surface
The USS Arizona also has some visible smoke stacks

USS Arizona Memoria

USS Bowfin Submarine

Have you been to Pearl Harbor?

If you love our National Parks,  you might enjoy:

National Parking:  Haleakala National Park

National Parking:  Klondike Gold Rush

National Parking:  Mount Rushmore

National Parking:  My Other Passport

National Parking:  Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Maui Adventures: The Really Long Haleakala Hike

I moved to Maui in November of 2013.   I'm on a mission to explore my new home!
Here's one of my Maui Adventures:

Prior to moving to Maui, I had been to the island of Maui exactly once.   And I'm pretty sure that we tried to put as much activity into three days as we could.   Luau?  Check.   Whale watching?  Of course.   Getting up in the middle of the night to ride bikes down Haleakala after sunrise?  Who wouldn't?   Snorkeling? Bring it on.

Halekala is not feature that you can ignore on Maui.   It is the prominent feature on the other side of the island.    All those upcountry adventures that I've gone on?  (this one, that one, and the one involving goats).   How do you think upcountry gets its  name?   It's on the side of the volcano.

And the volcano is the reason this piece of paradise exists in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

One of my friends here loves to hike.   In fact, she just came into my office this week, asked if I wanted to go hiking and then said "how's your upper body strength?"  Um.

Not sure if I'm ready for a hike that has that as a prerequisite, although it's probably awesome.

The hike we took at Haleakala National Park is a combination of different trails that becomes a 11.5 mile hike down, through, and up out of the crater.     This handy map was something I only looked at after we were done.  It was probably better that way.

We parked one car at the Halemau'u (Park Rd) trail head, and then drove up to the summit and parked the other car and embarked on our journey on the Sliding Sands Trail.

You start the hike by descending into the crater.    The 'ahinahina, the Halekakala silversword, is a unique and endangered plant to the park that can live for up to 90 years, but only blooms once.   We were fortunate to see many of the silverswords in bloom.          

The landscape during the first part of the hike could be something like hiking on the moon.   

It looks so different than anywhere else.  Amazing.

After hiking 3.9 miles into the crater you turn left.    Seriously.  
See that cone in the picture above?    You'll be a lot closer to it.

The hike continues through the red sand for another few miles.    Then the geography starts to change as you hike towards Holua cabin.

No longer looking like the moon...

At the cabin, you are about 2/3 of the way through the hike.   Of course, the remainder of the trail goes up. Switchbacks, naturally.    From the cabin back to the second car, it's about 1000 feet of elevation gain. It was a little rainy and misty by the time we were making our ascent.    

Climbing, climbing, climbing the switchbacks

But I did find out where, exactly, the red fern grows.  

It was a fantastic hike, and I would do it again.

Our Haleakala Hiking Crew

Things to know:

• Roads in Maui are windy with low speed limits - it will always take you longer to get where you're going if you're comparing it driving on the interstate back home
• It's $10 per car and your entry is good for 3 days
• The summit is 10,000 feet.   It will be cool at night and in the morning.  You're also closer to the sun, so you need to slather on that sunscreen.
• Bring layers of clothes, you will want to start this hike early before it gets too hot.   You'll want hiking boots or tennis shoes for the hike, and a pair of slippers (flip flops) to slide your tired feet in after your hike is over.
• Pack it in and pack it out - there are no trash cans on the hike
• Bring plenty of water - when you realize you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated
• For more information about Haleakala National Park, click here
• For a trail map, click here

Have you hiked Haleakala?

National Parking: Klondike Gold Rush

Throughout history, people love a get rich quick scheme.   Other people might fail, but I, yes I, will succeed!

1896 was no exception.   A couple people find gold in the Klondike River in the Yukon Territory.
Social Media (aka the newspaper) blows up in July 1897 and then everyone decides that packing up, moving north, trekking over dangerous mountain passes and then sailing in homemade boats for 500 miles is just the ticket.   Instant riches for everyone! 

On Sunday, a friend and I visited the Seattle Unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park as a part of our long weekend adventure in the Emerald City.    It was just a happy coincidence that it brushed up against National Park Week.  

It was a cool rainy morning, so watching a 20 minute video was a great way to learn and stay warm at the same time, while thinking about people carrying a years worth of food over the White Pass or Chilkoot Trail.  

In the exhibit area, I spun the wheel to see if I would find gold.

Just like you could never play Oregon Trail without having dying of cholera or getting a snakebite, you can't participate in the Klondike gold rush without going home cold, hungry and broke. 

(picture of me crying over my failure to strike it rich coming soon)

Here it is!

Have you been to any of the sites (Washington, Yukon Territory, Alaska) that feature in the story of the Klondike Gold Rush?

National Parking: Castle Clinton National Monument

The Statue of Liberty in the distance

 

The Statue of Liberty is probably the most famous National Monument in New York City.   It's one of the iconic symbols of our country.   My first visit to NYC was in high school and the day that we took the ferry out to the statue, it was so foggy that you couldn't see anything from the dock.    My friends and I made the executive decision to go to Ellis Island instead.    We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.     Currently both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are both closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.    The Statue of Libery is slated to reopen on July 4th this year.  

 

 

Castle Clinton National Monument is also closed right now for the same reason.     It was built as one of many harbor forts in the early 1800s to keep the British out.   The fort itself is hard to see in this picture that I took in Battery Park.     The sculpture in this photo is called The Sphere and it was originally between the twin towers of the World Trade Center.   This is its temporary home.  

 

It's been a few years since I've been to NYC.   Hurricane Sandy has probably changed the landscape and these pictures I took might not look remotely the same if I went back this year and took them again from the same spot.

 

Have you been to New York since Hurricane Sandy?   What has changed?

 

 

So many national parks....so little time
My Favorite Summer Job: Yellowstone National Park
National Parking: My Other Passport
National Parking: Black Canyon of the Gunnison

National Parking: Now With a Whole Week of Celebrating

National Parking: Mount Rushmore
National Parking: Bryce Canyon
National Parking: Haleakala

National Parking: Bandelier

National Parking:  San Francisco Maritime