Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Denali Grand Tour with Glacier Landing
A perfect Alaska morning takes me on K2 Aviation's Denali Grand Tour with Glacier Landing. From braided rivers and towering granite peaks to a landing on the Ruth Glacier inside the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, this flight offered some of the most spectacular scenery I've experienced in Alaska.
Seward: Alaska SeaLife Center
A rainy day in Seward didn't stop the adventure. After taking refuge inside the Alaska SeaLife Center, I explored the town's historic buildings, photographed Resurrection Bay during a brief break in the weather, and finished the evening with a drive to Exit Glacier. Sometimes the best travel days are the ones that refuse to follow the original plan.
Seward AK
After an incredible day exploring Kenai Fjords National Park, illness and steady rain forced me to slow down. What began as two quiet days of coffee shops, bakeries, and photo editing turned into an unexpected journey through Seward's history, from the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and the original Iditarod Trail to a fascinating Tribal Nations map that offered a new perspective on the incredible diversity of Indigenous cultures across the Americas.
Chitina to Valdez
Rain, rushing water, and low clouds set the tone for a slow day in Alaska. While driving back toward Glennallen for fuel, I stopped for foggy landscapes, puzzled over a lone truck sitting in a field beneath a massive cloud bank, and eventually found a beautiful campsite where two rivers met beneath snow-covered mountains. Sometimes the best days are the unplanned ones.
Salmon Fishing in the Copper River
A lazy catch-up day turned into a memorable Alaska travel day, with a walk across the Kuskulana River Bridge, views of the Copper River, salmon fishing near Chitina, fish wheels in the current, and a quiet riverside camp for the night.
Father’s Day In Remote Alaska
After a long day exploring Kennecott, Root Glacier, and McCarthy, I spent Father's Day parked beside the McCarthy Road reflecting on family, retirement, and life on the road. From blogging and photo editing to planning Valdez and enjoying a rare mosquito-free afternoon, it was a quiet day that reminded me how connected we can remain, even from remote Alaska.
Kennecott Copper Mill, Root Glacier, McCarthy, AK
What looked like a simple day trip to McCarthy became a lesson in Alaska logistics, mining history, and glacier landscapes. After navigating the infamous McCarthy Road, I toured the massive Kennecott Copper Mill, learned how one of the richest copper mines in history operated, and then hiked toward Root Glacier under gathering storm clouds before making the long journey back.
Kuskulana Bridge
A ranger's warning about a contaminated mining site sent me in a different direction through Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. The drive south led through Chitina, across the Copper River, past fish wheels and salmon fishermen, and over the dramatic Kuskulana Bridge before ending at a quiet overnight stop along the historic McCarthy Road.
Caribou Creek Trail
After learning that snow and high water had made the Skookum Volcano Trail a questionable choice, I shifted plans and hiked the Caribou Creek Trail along Nabesna Road in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Along the way were interesting conversations, a mysterious abandoned jacket, relentless mosquitoes, stream crossings, and a quiet backcountry cabin tucked deep into Alaska's wilderness.
White Pass and Alaska History
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad delivered spectacular mountain scenery, waterfalls, and a few memorable characters along the way. After returning to Skagway, I spent time exploring the Corrington Museum of Alaskan History, where exhibits on the Japanese occupation of Alaska during World War II, Native carving traditions, mammoth hunters, and the Iditarod offered a deeper look at the people, events, and cultures that helped shape Alaska's history.
Skagway's KlondikeGold Rush Stories
I spent the day exploring Skagway's history, starting at the excellent Skagway Museum and ending with the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park film. Along the way I learned about Soapy Smith, the White Pass railroad, Buffalo Soldiers, and the hardships faced by thousands of stampeders heading for Dawson City. A stop at the historic Mascot Saloon and an evening hike around Lower Dewey Lake rounded out one of the most interesting days I've had in Alaska.
North From Whitehorse, YT
A short drive from Whitehorse turned into a day of unexpected discoveries. I followed a side road to historic Mendenhall Landing, photographed one of the largest beaver lodges I've ever seen, explored the Kluane National Park Visitor Centre, and learned about the Southern Tutchone people. With rain, wind, and low clouds hiding the mountains, Yukon reminded me that conditions can change quickly.
Hoh Rainforest
I spent the day exploring the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, one of the wettest and most unique forests in the United States. Moss-covered trees, towering Sitka spruce, elk along the roadside, and conversations with fellow travelers and photographers turned a long day of driving into one of the most memorable experiences of my Washington journey.
Lake Crescent: Marymere Falls Trail
After a quiet night parked in Port Angeles, I spent the afternoon hiking the Marymere Falls Trail near Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. Moss-covered trees, emerald green forests, Barnes Creek, and soft evening light made this one of the most peaceful hikes I’ve done in Washington. The day ended beside the water before finding another quiet street to sleep for the night.
Hurricane Ridge to Mount Angeles
A fog-filled drive up Hurricane Ridge turned into one of the most physically demanding hikes I’ve done in years. From steep snowfields and loose mountain trails to wildlife encounters, mountain photography, and an unexpected friendship with an Army trainer newly arrived from Alaska, this day in Olympic National Park became far more memorable than I expected when I left the van that morning.
Crater Lake
A quiet drive from Bend to Crater Lake turned into one of the most memorable days of the trip. Lava fields, snow-covered roads, changing weather, and the deep blue caldera made it feel like visiting the park at exactly the right moment—just before the crowds and long before the snow fully disappeared.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Hike
I hiked to the old Victoria Mine before 8 a.m., walking four miles through saguaros, organ pipe cactus, cholla, and creosote bush in the Sonoran Desert. After signing out at the trail register, I left Arizona, stopped in Ajo for coffee, photographed a massive desert aqueduct carrying Colorado River water, and made my way toward Lake Mohave for the night.
Golden Spike / Spiral Jetty
A sluggish morning at the Sun Tunnels turned into a long, careful drive across Utah’s back roads—past sheep herders on horseback, trailers arranged like small inward-facing communities, and miles of washboard dirt—ending with quiet reflection at Golden Spike and a solitary sunset arrival at Spiral Jetty.
Capitol Reef National Park and Butch Cassidy
A slow morning in Capitol Reef National Park turned into a day shaped by history. From the working orchards of Fruita and the massive Fremont cottonwoods known as the Silent Sentinels, to roadside petroglyphs and a humble stop at Butch Cassidy’s childhood home, the drive west became a reminder that this landscape has been lived in, marked, and worked for centuries.
Harpers Ferry - Day 2
I started my day near Harpers Ferry, grabbed breakfast in Charles Town, then hiked the Maryland Heights Loop—the steep climb, the fort, and the overlook were worth every step. After lunch at The Rabbit Hole and watching a freight train blast through town, I caught sunset at Antietam and ended the night quietly at Planet Fitness.