by | July 26, 2010 · 9:21 pm

The Colors of Bodega Head

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Whale watching and vibrant colors await you at Bodega Head on the Sonoma Coast.    You can drive up a mountainside to a wide open view of the Pacific where you will find whale watchers staring dutifully at the ocean.  I didn’t see any whales but can’t say I gave it anymore than just a few minutes of my attention.

There is a hike that takes you away from the whale watching area to Horseshoe Cove Overlook. It’s not a difficult hike except you need to be very careful of the steep cliffs.  And, if you are allergic to bees, you may want to pass on this one.  The hike takes you through wildflowers that are as high as four feet. I saw a lot of bees but none was interested in me.

You will be moved by the abundance of color: the blue waters of the Pacific, the vivid white spray as it crashes against the rocks and the flowers.  The flowers are brilliant.  The closer you get to the Overlook, the less you hear the ocean. Once there, it is a beautiful silence – a reward for making it to the top.

On the way back, I recommend a stop at the Spud Point Crab Company for some of the best clam chowder I have ever had. Couple that with a delicious dungeness crab sandwich on sourdough bread and it is time for a nap!

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by | July 24, 2010 · 11:10 pm

Bodega Bay, California – Armstrong Redwoods

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Greetings from Bodega Bay, California, home to many fantastic walks!  I can hear the Pacific from my hotel room, which overlooks a peaceful marsh just above Doran Beach. I flew into San Jose on a Thursday about 2pm, caught a bit of traffic through Oakland and San Francisco but was in my room by 5pm. I gotta a lotta walking to do – feets don’t fail me now!

I was put in my place at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve in a nearby town called Gurneville.  The redwoods are spectacular – “Colonel Armstrong” stands 308 feet, is over 14 feet wide and over 1400 years old. 1400 years old. Really puts things in perspective.

The visitors center suggested nine different walks and hikes.  I took a short 1.7 mile hike to Armstrong Tree.  Nature’s artistry is on display here – it’s as if there are sculptures naturally carved into the bark of many of the trees.  Some of the fallen wood take the shape of artistic testaments to these mighty trees.

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by | April 28, 2010 · 11:58 pm

World’s Most Breathtaking Walks

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This is required reading for walking enthusiasts: ABC News’ list of the 10 Most Breathtaking Walks.  And they are.

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by | April 26, 2010 · 2:56 am

Spring in New Orleans

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Spring is the best time to be in New Orleans. The azaleas and magnolia trees are blooming and the oak trees become green and leafy again.

It’s also the best musical time of the year, with Jazz Fest and the French Quarter Fest providing tunes to suit every taste.  This year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival includes huge performers like Simon and Garfunkel and Aretha Franklin,   nice complements to the always popular Aaron Neville, Trombone Shorty and a very long list of New Orleans favorites.  Jazz Fest takes place over two weekends. This year, it runs April 23 – May 2. I’m looking forward to seeing the Gipsy Kings on April 30.

While  you’re not at the ‘Fest, consider a stroll in the historic Garden District, a neighborhood rich with architecture.  In fact, consider two strolls in the Garden District because it’s  impossible to take it all in during a single visit.  No matter how many times you walk through the neighborhood, you’re always going to be pleasantly surprised to discover something – whether it’s an interesting wrought iron fence, lush  landscaping or impeccable architectural detail.  The Garden District is accessible via the St. Charles Avenue streetcar from downtown or uptown. Walking tours are common.  It’s bordered by St. Charles and Magazine, Jackson and Louisiana Avenues.

There are some great places to eat in the area too. Commander’s Palace makes for a memorable fine dining experience but you can also grab some good food on or near Magazine Street at more casual joints like Joey K’s, Cafe Rani, or Parasol’s to name just a few of many.

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by | March 15, 2010 · 5:16 am

#4 – Back to Jasper, Canada

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Now that I am fully recovered from Super Bowl, Mardi Gras and the St. Patrick’s day parades here in NOLA, I am resuming my entries about the Canadian Rockies.  I can’t finish them until I tell you about my experience at Trident Mountain range, near Jasper.   I happened upon it as part of a dinner reservation at a restaurant at Tekarra Lodge, which was absolutely delicious – a small restaurant in the woods that has apparently been frequented by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and John Travolta – go figure.

Anyway, just steps away from the Lodge is a breakthaking overlook.

It sits at the confluence of the Athabasca and Miette Rivers and offers a view that will make your trip to Alberta.

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by | February 17, 2010 · 1:30 am

The World’s Biggest Free Party

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You might see a costume or two on any given day in New Orleans but on Mardi Gras day, the streets of New Orleans are filled with colorful expressions of celebration. You name it:  men dressed as women, women dressed as men, and everything in between. It’s a nice complement to the parades which stroll down a traditional route from uptown to downtown to mark the beginning of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

It is the ultimate people watching experience.  You can walk from uptown New Orleans and the Garden District to downtown and the French Quarter to enjoy the sites.

If you’ve never made it to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday, don’t miss it.  If you can’t take off from work, the weekend prior to Mardi Gras day is full of great parades – enormous pagents like Endymion on Saturday and Bacchus on Sunday night cap off a full lineup of daytime parades. Each have celebrity monarchs. No surprise that the New Orleans Saints were in the lead this year. Tom Benson was king of Endymion; Drew Brees was Bacchus and Coach Sean Payton led the Krewe of Orpheus on Monday night.

Mardi Gras is what you make it. It is a family event for those who bring the kids and the barbecue pit. It is a more mature escapade for those who prefer Bourbon Street.  One thing is certain:  it is a cultural display like nowhere else in the world.

Mardi Gras next year is March 8.  Make your reservations now!

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by | February 12, 2010 · 3:24 am

Miami Beach Boardwalk

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Nothing like a walk on the beach. Goodness knows there has been plenty
enough written about the benefits of walking in sand. Sand is good but
let’s face it, sand can find its way into most everything and if you are out of town, staying in a hotel room, the last thing you want to do is track sand into the room. Yes, I know there are showers for that. But when an option presents itself, I take that route.

In Miami, that would be the Boardwalk on South Beach. I was in town for the
Super Bowl (Who Dat!) and found the Boardwalk to offer a pleasant and
sand-free way to get some exercise while taking in the beauty of the
Atlantic Ocean.

According to runtheplanet.com, the wooden boardwalk along the beach runs between 21st and 49th Streets and is about 2 miles long.

I took in the Boardwalk on the north end of South Beach and stopped in
for lunch at Carrabbas, which was delicious. Fairly windy that day –
the lettuce was actually flying out of my grilled mahi mahi ceasar
salad.

With so much of the country digging their way out of snow, maybe
a few thoughts of walking along a beachside boardwalk will warm you up!

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by | January 31, 2010 · 4:20 am

#3 Johnston Canyon – Up Close

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It’s not often you can reach out and touch the  upper part of a waterfall as it cascades below.  You can almost do that at Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park in Canada.  There is a rock tunnel (for lack of a better word) that brings you breathtakingly close to the waterfall.  Brendan at Johnston Canyon Resort told me that it’s believed nature created a big indentation in the rock  and a pioneer  bore a hole through it, creating a small viewing area.  It offers a spectacular view of the lower waterfall which drops about forty feet.  You’ll get drenched by the mist of the waterfall and the roar of the rushing water sends a clear message from Mother Nature about who’s boss.

There is an easy twenty minute hike on a paved walkway to the lower fall and for the more serious hiker, you can venture further on to the upper fall.   That hike will take about two hours roundtrip I am told.

Unless you’re into ice climbing you might want to wait until late spring of summer to visit.  Alberta’s frigid temperatures ice over  the lower falls.

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by | January 18, 2010 · 10:09 pm

#2. Jasper – where the moose (or is it meese?) come out at night

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It’s always nice to see wildlife on a hike.  If you come from the city like me, you will be amazed at the wildlife in Jasper, especially moose sightings. They can be viewed during the day but they really come out once the sun goes down.  I stayed at the Fairmont Jasper in Banff National Park and sure enough they came walking down the road, snacking on grass right in front of my room! I couldn’t believe it. (Fairmont didn’t pay me to write this – I paid full freight)

There is a fantastic lake at the hotel and it’s a nice walk around.  The lake is also a water source for the area so there’s no swimming allowed, but you can kayak and canoe, which is also nice.  There are great walks all around this area. It’s spectacular.

You will also see a fair amount of deer and mountain goats – all you have to do is look.

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by | January 8, 2010 · 9:59 pm

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

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How many beautiful walks are there in Canada’s Banff National Park? Too many to fit in a single blog entry! The best I can do is tell you about my favorites … and there are many.  Instead of overdosing you on all of them, I am going to roll them out one at a time.

Drum roll please…

#1 The Crystal Waters of Lake Louise

Lake Louise is one of the most popular spots in Banff National Park and for that reason, you will have plenty of company on your visit. But who cares – the blue waters of this glacial lake in the mountains are picture perfect and offer an authentic alpine experience.  The Fairmont has a resort on the lake but it is open to the public.  There is a nice walk alongside the lake that is truly pleasant. You can hike further to a teahouse, about a four and a half mile walk.

This is a  big ski area – I visited in the summer and the weather was stunning. Clear and cool.

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