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San Mateo Canyon
Photo:
Krystina Castella

San Mateo Canyon

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San Mateo Canyon
Photo:
Krystina Castella

San Mateo Canyon

Cleveland National Forest

Krystina Castella

Nestled within the Cleveland National Forest in Southern California, San Mateo Canyon Wilderness is a hidden gem for hiking and nature enthusiasts. Spanning over 38,000 acres, this wilderness has a variety of trails
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Featured

Palo Duro Canyon
Photo:
Brian Boyl

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Canyon, Texas

Krystina Castella
The second largest canyon in the US is in the Texas panhandle, just south of Amarillo: Palo Duro Canyon. Home of some fascinating conflicts in the westward expansion, the canyon now feels like ...
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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...
Click here to read more of the article.
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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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
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 ...
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
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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Old Town Lancaster
Photo:
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 ...
Click here to read more of the article.

Play

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 ...
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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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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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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 ...
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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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Little Blue Door
Photo:
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 ...
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Nature

Geological formations
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Capitol Reef National Park

Colorful Canyons and Fremont Culture

Krystina Castella
Capitol Reef National Park, located in south-central Utah, known for its geological formations, including colorful canyons, monolithic domes, and twisting gorges. The park is defined by the Waterpocket Fold ...
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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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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Pinnacles National Park

Towering Rock Spires

Krystina Castella
Located in central California by Soledad “Prime Farmland” in the Salinas Valley Pinnacles National Park is named for the towering rock spires formed from the remnants of an ancient volcanic field. Over millions of years, tectonic forces and erosion have sculpted these
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Photo Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

Celebration of California’s State Flower

Krystina Castella
Just 68 miles North of Los Angeles and 15 miles west of Lancaster is the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. From Mid- February through Mid-May the grassy landscape fills with a dreamscape ...
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Sun at Arches
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Arches National Park

Moab, Utah

Krystina Castella
Arches National Park, in eastern Utah near Moab, has more than 2,000 natural stone arches, set in desert landscapes. Delicate Arch, set against the backdrop of the La Sal Mountains has become a symbol ...
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Everglades National Park
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Alligators All Around

Florida's State Reptile

Krystina Castella
On hikes throughout Florida’s numerous wetlands, rivers, swamps, and lakes it is not unusual for us to come across a wild alligator or two. While alligators were endangered 50 years ago the population is ...
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Art & Design

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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Mount Rushmore
Photo:
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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Photo:
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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Prairie Modernism and More
Photo:
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 ...
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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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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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More Art and Design...

Cities & Towns

Point Arena Lighthouse
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Mendocino

California Historical Landmark

Krystina Castella
Mendocino is a village that sits on the rugged cliffs of California's northern coast. The town dates to the 1850s when it was established as a logging community. Today, Mendocino is a haven for
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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
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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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Springview, Nebraska

The Good Life

Krystina Castella
While on a road trip have you ever passed through a small town and get the feeling to stop? In Springville, it was the subtle clues, a zebra painted house and the nearby retro gas station that lured us ...
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Old Town Lancaster
Photo:
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 ...
Click here to read more of the article.
Victoria Harbor
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Victoria BC

British Columbia, Canada

Krystina Castella
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, Canada, sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The heart of Victoria is its historic Inner Harbor, where you can watch seaplanes take off and land, catch a glimpse of the historic
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Savoring history and folk art

Krystina Castella
Sometimes when dropping into a new town discovering the surprises is just as exciting as the intended destination. This was the case during our visit to Philly. Rich in American history ...
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More Cities and Towns...

Roadside Attractions

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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Governor's Palace, Colonial Williamsburg
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

Engage with people and places from the past

Krystina Castella
As largest living history museum in the world, Colonial Williamsburg is the closest we can get to time travel. If you love Hamilton the musical, here is your chance to return to the Revolutionary War ...
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Bridge over Colorado River
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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The Chairy Orchard welcome gate
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Chairy Orchard

A Landscape of Chairs

Krystina Castella
It was one of those rainy-day drives where we were constantly questioning if we should pull over to the side of the road because the rain was coming down so hard. In times like these we typically do a search on attractions near me which happened to be Denton, Texas- just outside of Dallas. That is how we found the Chairy Orchard surfacing right to the #1 spot. We had no idea what it was, but it was something to do for a bit until the rain let up. We were puzzled by...
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Winchester Mystery House
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Winchester Mystery House

America's most haunted places

Krystina Castella
The Winchester Mystery House, in San Jose, California, is as a testament to eccentricity. Built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm magnate William Wirt Winchester, this sprawling mansion is famous for its labyrinthine
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Bright Yellow Greek Revival Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

William Taft Historic Site

History and Décor

Krystina Castella
Visiting the childhood homes of well know figures tells us a bit more about the environments that shaped their character and philosophy. On a quest for ...
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More Roadside Attractions...

Articles

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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Photo: Krystina Castella
Photo:
Krystina Castella

American Flags

Expression of our National Identity

Krystina Castella
One thing American’s have in common is the symbol of the American flag. As our national symbol of identity to each person or group it offers diverse and complex ...
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Photo:
Krystina Castella

The Staten Island Ferry

A NYC favorite

Krystina Castella
Some people love trains, other cars or planes. My adoration is for the Staten Island Ferry. Having grown up on Staten Island the ferry connected ...
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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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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...
Click here to read more of the article.
Surprise: The Blue Angels
Photo:
Krystina Castella

Surprise: The Blue Angels

Pensacola, Florida

Krystina Castella
This was one of those unplanned spontaneous experiences that makes road trips so sensational. We had just left our picturesque campsite at Blue Lagoon State Park in Pensacola, Florida. Our son was on-line in ...
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