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Krystina Castella
Palm Beach, FL
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Krystina Castella
Palm Beach, FL
Florida Glamour
Krystina Castella
Palm Beach, Florida, is known for its beaches, arts scene, upscale shopping experiences and historical landmarks. Worth Avenue, often compared to Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, is Palm Beach’s premier...
Featured
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Krystina Castella
Yosemite National Park
Embrace diversity in the Valley
Krystina Castella
No matter how many times we have visited we are always in awe of Yosemite National Park. When arriving from State Highway 41 the first sweeping expanse of the views of the valley is glimpsed from Tunnel View Overlook. Here you will see ...
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Krystina Castella
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wander between art and nature
Krystina Castella
Santa Fe’s adobe architecture, art, food, unique culture, biking, skiing, and beautiful weather makes it a joy to visit. Founded sometime between 1607 and 1610, Santa Fe was established around the same time as Jamestown, Virginia, and about a decade before ...
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Krystina Castella
Museum International Folk Art
By the people. For the people
Krystina Castella
The Museum of International Folk Art is my favorite place to visit in Santa Fe. The anchor exhibit Multiple Visions: A Common Bond is an immense collection of toys, travel souvenirs, street art, miniatures, ceramics, textiles and just about anything that can be categorized as folk art. The 10,000 pieces on display were ...
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Krystina Castella
Children’s Garden, Huntington
Pasadena, California
Krystina Castella
If you find yourself in Pasadena on a warm day with children under seven treat yourself to the enchanted environment of the Children’s Garden at the Huntington.Enter through a tiny blue door into a whimsical landscape to ...
Photo:
Brian Boyl
Glacier National Park
"Crown of the Continent"
Krystina Castella
Glacier National Park, located in Montana's Rocky Mountains, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes that include rugged peaks, pristine forests, and spectacular glacier-carved...
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Krystina Castella
Newport, Oregon
Maritime Heritage, and Coastal Scenery
Krystina Castella
Newport, Oregon, on the central coast, is known for its maritime heritage, and coastal scenery. The Yaquina Bay Bridge completed in 1936 is one of the most recognized bridges in the state and is on the National Register of
Play
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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 ...
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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Krystina Castella
James Island County Park
James Island, South Carolina
Krystina Castella
For a recreational vacation head right outside of Charleston and visit James Island County Park. It offers camping, open meadows, fishing, crabbing and miles of paved trails for walking, biking ...
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Krystina Castella
Lakeshore Bike Trail
Chicago, Illinois
Krystina Castella
Upon arrival in Chicago on a sunny summer afternoon, we experienced the city at its best. Driving up along Lakeshore Drive we saw residents pour out of their apartments to enjoy the beautiful ...
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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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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 ...
Nature
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Krystina Castella
Freshkills Park
Staten Island, New York
Krystina Castella
Freshkills Park, located on Staten Island, New York, represents one of the most transformative environmental projects in the world. Once the site of the world’s largest landfill, Freshkills is ...
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Krystina Castella
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Florence, Oregon
Krystina Castella
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, near Florence, Oregon, has one the largest expanses of coastal sand dunes in North America stretching over 40 miles along the coast. Hiking trails wind through the dunes and surrounding
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Krystina Castella
Montaña de Oro State Park
Mountain of Gold
Krystina Castella
Montaña de Oro State Park, spanning over 8,000 acres along California’s central coast, has rugged cliffs, secluded sand dunes, beaches, coastal plains, streams...
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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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Brian Boyl
Glacier National Park
"Crown of the Continent"
Krystina Castella
Glacier National Park, located in Montana's Rocky Mountains, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes that include rugged peaks, pristine forests, and spectacular glacier-carved...
Photo:
Krystina Castella
Smoky Mountains National Park
Most visited National Park in the US
Krystina Castella
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, spanning North Carolina and Tennessee is the most visited National Park in the United States. The name comes from the Cherokee people who called the landscape “place of the blue smoke” referring ...
Art & Design
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Krystina Castella
Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse
The Black Hills, South Dakota
Krystina Castella
The Black Hills of South Dakota is a region steeped in natural beauty and historical significance. Mount Rushmore National Monument and the Crazy Horse Memorial are two monumental sculptural attractions that sometimes jut out and sometimes ...
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Krystina Castella
Columbus, Indiana
Prairie modernism and more
Krystina Castella
Arriving on a Sunday a few hours before sunset Columbus, Indiana was as sleepy as any small town could be. The visitor’s center, small shops, restaurants and churches ...
Photo:
Brian Boyl
Seven Magic Mountains
Contrast of Nature and Culture
Krystina Castella
When driving on Interstate 15, just south of Las Vegas, Nevada be sure to stop at Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s land art piece Seven Magic Mountains. At about 35 feet tall the massive sculpture consists of thirty-three boulders ...
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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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Krystina Castella
Barn Quilts
Folk Art of America’s Heartland
Krystina Castella
If you are looking for an excuse for a road trip head out to discover the grassroots movement of barn quilts. A form of American folk art barn quilts are painted wood or metal squares that ...
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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 ...
Cities & Towns
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Krystina Castella
Fredrick, Maryland
Biking the historic loop
Krystina Castella
It is not the size of neighboring DC or Baltimore but Fredrick, Maryland has an intimate charm that attracts ...
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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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Krystina Castella
Las Vegas
An Oasis in the Desert
Krystina Castella
After weeks of camping and living in dirt showing up with a mud-covered SUV to the glitz, lights and artificial environments of Vegas is just what we need. In nature ...
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Krystina Castella
Ohiopyle
An Outdoors Overload
Krystina Castella
Ohiopyle sounds like it is in Ohio doesn’t it? It is actually in the Laurel Highlands a beautiful region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. We booked a campsite in Ohiopyle State Park to stay ...
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Krystina Castella
Charleston, South Carolina
Get lost in Southern Charm
Krystina Castella
Our first impression of Charleston, South Carolina was that this is a city that understands its quaint beauty. Although the Charleston ...
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Krystina Castella
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Old Meets New in Pennsylvania Dutch County
Krystina Castella
In Lancaster, the center of Pennsylvania Dutch County, you will absorb the coexistence of Amish heritage and modern society. Electric vehicles share the road with horse drawn carriages, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Shoppers carrying groceries ...
Roadside Attractions
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Krystina Castella
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Appalachian Mountains
Krystina Castella
Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway is a journey through the natural and cultural heritage of the Appalachian Mountains. The road stretches 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina with many ...
Photo:
Brian Boyl
Hoover Dam
Art Deco meets Engineering
Krystina Castella
The Hoover Dam, one of America's most iconic landmarks, is an engineering and artistic marvel. Built during the Great Depression and completed in 1936. It straddles the border between Nevada and Arizona state lines and
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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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Krystina Castella
A Rainbow of Color
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Krystina Castella
The Colorado State University Trial Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado is a breathtakingly beautiful place to lose yourself in flowers of every color, texture, shape and form. The purpose of ...
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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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
Articles
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Krystina Castella
CicLAvia
Welcome Back!
Krystina Castella
On an average day for the average person biking in LA is not easy. There is traffic to navigate and distance to cover. At CicLAvia (Inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía) restrictions fade and we experience a glimpse at what Los Angeles could be like if our city was car free. We see neighborhoods that are ...
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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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Krystina Castella
Campground Christmas
A Summertime Celebration
Krystina Castella
Celebrating Christmas is merry. The decorating, the music, the sweets. A full month of diversion from the everyday filled with the excitement of the season. But in July? While camping? To our surprise Christmas was uncovered at Ledges State Park in Iowa. From the park’s name we expected sandstone rock ledges, a flowing creek and lush trees nestled...
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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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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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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 ...
