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Playing on Trees
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Redwoods National and State Parks

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Playing on Trees
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Redwoods National and State Parks

Ancient Forest of Tall Trees

Krystina Castella

Nestled along the rugged coast of Northern California, the Redwoods National and State Parks are a natural wonder with nearly half of the world's old-growth redwoods. Hyperion is the tallest tree
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Featured

Adventure Playground: Berkeley, California
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Adventure Playgrounds

A history and a visit

Krystina Castella
Adventure playgrounds offer unrestricted play in either natural or junk environments, and kids explore and invent with found materials. Today they are growing in popularity in the United States due to modern parent’s awareness of ...
Click here to read more of the article.
Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

The Super Bloom

Krystina Castella
Every year wildflowers lovers throughout southern California ask, “Will Anza Borrego have a super bloom?” In years with abundant rainfall, the Sonoran Desert landscape is filled with an abundance of colors. At the peak ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Saddlebag Lake

Sierra Nevada Mountains

Krystina Castella
Saddlebag Lake, located at an elevation of 10,087 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, is a hidden gem. Just a short drive from Yosemite National Park’s eastern entrance, this alpine lake is part of the
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Beach, Anastasia State Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Anastasia State Park

St. Augustine, Florida

Krystina Castella
Anastasia State Park, located in St. Augustine, Florida, is a stunning coastal park renowned for its pristine beach and historic lighthouse. The park features over 1,600 acres of unspoiled nature ...
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Goodman's Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Healing Waters of Colorado

Krystina Castella
Pagosa Springs calls itself the “hot springs capital of Colorado” with 25 natural geothermal soaking pools. "Pagosah" is a Southern Ute word for "healing waters" and the town is home to the world's deepest hot spring. If driving through stop and soak in ...
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Breathtaking Views of Zion NP
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Zion National Park

Southwestern Utah

Krystina Castella
Zion National Park is an expansive natural playground located in southwestern Utah, characterized by high plateaus, deep sandstone canyons, and rock formations. The park covers ...
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Play

Brian Boyl
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Millennium & Maggie Daley

A Day of Play, Chicago

Krystina Castella
Millennium Park and nearby Maggie Daley Park are two public spaces in Chicago where the whole day can be filled with play. At these parks locals ...
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Rafts
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Huntington Beach Play

Risky Muddy Fun

Krystina Castella
Huntington Beach Adventure Playground is for families seeking an outdoor play area that encourages creativity, physical activity, and adventurous play. In the heart of Huntington Central Park, this park offers ...
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Strong National Museum of Play
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Strong Museum of Play

Rochester, New York

Krystina Castella
The Strong National Museum of Play is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of play. Located in Rochester, New York it is filled with interactive exhibits and is home to an impressive collection of toys ...
Click here to read more of the article.
Adventure Playground: Berkeley, California
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Adventure Playgrounds

A history and a visit

Krystina Castella
Adventure playgrounds offer unrestricted play in either natural or junk environments, and kids explore and invent with found materials. Today they are growing in popularity in the United States due to modern parent’s awareness of ...
Click here to read more of the article.
Bridge in Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Central Park, NY

Experiencing NY Through Play

Krystina Castella
In the middle of Manhattan’s concrete grid, CentralPark opens like a playground for all. Olmsted and Vaux designed it...
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Biking along ledges and bowls
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Gooseberry Mesa

Slickrock mountain biking

Krystina Castella
Over 20 years ago we walked into the only bike shop in Springdale, Utah, an undeveloped town, right outside of Zion National Park. We asked if there was any good biking around. The owner told us that recently some guys went up to the top of the mesa a few miles away and painted dots on the slickrock and made bike paths. It sounded ...
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More Play...

Nature

Beach, Anastasia State Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Anastasia State Park

St. Augustine, Florida

Krystina Castella
Anastasia State Park, located in St. Augustine, Florida, is a stunning coastal park renowned for its pristine beach and historic lighthouse. The park features over 1,600 acres of unspoiled nature ...
Click here to read more of the article.
Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Salton Sea

California's Largest Lake

Krystina Castella
At thirty-five miles long and 15 miles wide Salton Sea is the largest lake in California. Twice the size of Lake Tahoe. Situated in the Sonoran Desert the land where it stands was originally a salt sink ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Saddlebag Lake

Sierra Nevada Mountains

Krystina Castella
Saddlebag Lake, located at an elevation of 10,087 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, is a hidden gem. Just a short drive from Yosemite National Park’s eastern entrance, this alpine lake is part of the
Click here to read more of the article.
Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Carlsbad Caverns

Bats, Caves and Speleothems

Krystina Castella
In a midst of a landscape covered with flaming oil rigs just below the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid carved the limestone underground
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Assateague National Seashore

It is all about the Horses!

Krystina Castella
If you’ve ever wanted to spend the day sitting on the beach watching herds of wild horses play in the waves Assateague National Seashore is ...
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Entry to Ricketts Glen
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Ricketts Glen State Park

Necklace of Waterfalls

Krystina Castella
Rated the #1 State Park in Pennsylvania, Ricketts Glen features a necklace of 25 picturesque waterfalls along a four-and-a-half-mile trail through the ...
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More Nature...

Art & Design

Nomade: Jaume Plensa
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

Des Moines, Iowa

Krystina Castella
We arrived at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park and were excited to see one of the most impressive collections of modern sculpture in the country. More than two dozen large sculptures made by internationally acclaimed artists ...
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Photo:
Brian Boyl

Fallingwater

The best time to visit

Krystina Castella
When considering the places I wanted to visit on this trip across the country I immediately thought of Fallingwater. I wanted to experience being there ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Shotgun Houses

The colorful vibe of a community

Krystina Castella
Shotgun Houses, the iconic, colorful homes scattered throughout the American South stand out in New Orleans because of the overt personalization. Through color ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Murals of Cincinnati

If walls could speak

Krystina Castella
Cincinnati is a city in transformation that cares about the community through investing in art! It is home to a vibrant collection of ...
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Kitty
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Murals of New Orleans

Krystina Castella
We arrived in New Orleans on a cold overcast day and stumbled upon an explosion of color. Art expressing the history, culture and people of the community. Publicly funded murals, sanctioned street art and graffiti are ...
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Taliesin West
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Taliesin West

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Krystina Castella
Taliesin West, designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Serving as Wright's winter home from ...
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More Art and Design...

Cities & Towns

Pittsburg, PA
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Pittsburg, PA

Bridges and Learning

Krystina Castella
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania once known for its steel mills, has become a hub of education, technology, and the arts. Often referred to as the "City of Bridges," it is nestled at the confluence of the ...
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Photo:Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Little Green Men of Roswell

Alien Encounters in New Mexico

Krystina Castella
Do you believe in alien encounters on earth? More than seventy years after the Roswell incident of 1947 the city of Roswell, New Mexico continues to capitalize on the report of a UFO crash nearby. Despite a lack of credible evidence ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Easton, Pennsylvania

Waterways and Bridges

Krystina Castella
Right across the Northampton Street bridge from New Jersey at the intersection of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers is the picturesque ...
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Mural by Chickasaw artist Brent Greenwood
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Sulphur, Oklahoma

Dive into the "Little Niagara"

Krystina Castella
Sulphur, Oklahoma is home to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area and chock full of creeks, falls, springs, campgrounds, and buffalo. The Oklahomans who camp here say this is their favorite place in the state and not like anything ...
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Silverton, Colorado
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Silverton, Colorado

Mining and Old West Charm

Krystina Castella
Silverton, Colorado, is a picturesque town that embodies the spirit of the Old West. Surrounded by the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains, this former mining town ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Lone Pine, CA

Gateway to the Highest and Lowest

Krystina Castella
Lone Pine, California on US Route 395 is a little over 3 hours north of Los Angeles and where the big wall of the Sierras starts to take shape. The tiny old ...
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More Cities and Towns...

Roadside Attractions

Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Randyland

The most colorful spot in Pittsburg

Krystina Castella
Randyland is the creation of eccentric folk artist, Randy Gilson. Gilson had an idea to transform his home in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood of Pittsburgh's ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

World’s Largest Thermometer

Baker, California

Krystina Castella
If you have every wondered where and when the hottest temperature every recorded on earth is the answer is 134 degrees F in Death Valley, California on July, 10 1913. That temperature inspired Willis Herron to build World’s Tallest Thermometer to draw freeway travelers ...
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Apple Orchard, Avila Valley Barn
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Avila Valley Barn

Avila Beach

Krystina Castella
Avila Valley Barn, at Avila Beach area of California’s Central Coast, captures the essence of farm-fresh goodness. Established as a family-owned and operated farm, The location invites visitors to step into a world of wholesome
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Scotts Bluff, Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Gering, Nebraska

Krystina Castella
As the great plains give way to the foothills of the Rockies along the North Platte River, the first outcroppings of the foothills are a set of bluffs in Western Nebraska called Scotts Bluff. Named after a fur trader ...
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Museum of Barbed Wire, McLean, TX
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Barbed Wire & Murals

Route 66 in McLean TX

Krystina Castella
A quick stop for gas on Route 66 led us into the 1.2 square mile town of McLean, Texas which happens to be on the National Register of Historic Places. This remote town makes the most of ...
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Dinosaur Tracks
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Moenave Dinosaur Tracks

Tuba City, Arizona

Krystina Castella
The Moenave Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City, Arizona, are a fascinating paleontological site showcasing well-preserved dinosaur footprints from the Early Jurassic period. These tracks
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More Roadside Attractions...

Articles

Photo:
Krystina Castella

State Welcome Signs

First Impressions

Krystina Castella
First impressions mean everything. That is how I feel about Gateway Signs more commonly known as State Welcome Signs. The approach to a sign, the design ...
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Junior Rangers and their badges.
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Junior Rangers

A playful way to explore the parks

Krystina Castella
There they were. Two inspired children on a mission, storming through the visitor’s center doors of Fort Necessity National Battlefield just outside of Pittsburg. They proudly showcased their achievements all over their clothing. As they made their way to the front desk, they enthusiastically asked the ranger on duty, “Do you have Junior Ranger booklets?” These kids were...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

All About Hay

Golden Pixels in the Landscape

Krystina Castella
In the American prairie states hay is hard to miss. Golden pixels in the landscape in many shapes and sizes. I decided to find out as you never know when I will need to whip out these facts at a dinner party or if a student develops a project around horses or cows ...
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Scrumptious bacon/egg fried pie
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Fried Pies

Sweet and Savory

Krystina Castella
Fried hand pies, a classic of the American South can be found in places stretching from the Carolinas to Texas. Depending on the filling they can be... See our fried pie recipe ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Ice Cream Trucks

The taste of summer

Krystina Castella
Before I saw the truck I heard the jingle off in the distance. I knew the melody well-The Entertainer. Once in sight it was hard to miss. A brightly colored truck ...
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Everglades National Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Florida Love

Favorites of the Sunshine State

Krystina Castella
Florida and California (where we live) have many commonalities. We both have oranges, palm trees, beautiful and sunny warm weather in winter. However, there are many differences that draw us back to visit Florida ...
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