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Amelia Walker

Over 200 stairs to the top, but you achieve a unique view of the lake and Holland State Park that you just can't get anywhere else! The trails connected to the top are also a really fun side adventure through the neighboring woods. A great way to start or finish your day at the beach!

This park has tons of trails of varying difficulty and topography! My personal favorite is the one with the ladders - you start out in a cavern, walking down between two cliffs, and then must climb a series of ladders to get to the upper trail! It can definitely be crowded in the summer or during the Covered Bridge Festival time in the area, but going when the fall colors are out is my favorite!

There is not much like this in the area! Great for lounging during the day or a swim when it gets hot! You can't really compare it to a great lakes or ocean-side beach, but it's great to get the feeling in your own backyard. The surrounding park is one of my favorites - great for a quick hike or bike ride, and a favorite spot for boating and fishing as well. This park has it all!

So many great views were seen on my last trip to Georgia, but this one was my favorite! Easy 1-mile hike to Preacher's Rock, and the view was spectacular and nearly 180 degrees! We could look out and see the shadows of clouds on the mountains and the sun beginning to set in the distance. We were the only one's out there, so crowds were not something we had to fight to see this beautiful view.

I loved this short but rewarding hike! The view towards the dunes is breathtaking and the sandy terrain is an added fun bonus! Bring the sunscreen and a camera!

While it was a short hike, this hike had some fun challenges along the way (like some steep rocks to climb up) and a very rewarding view at the top! A perfect trip for the average hiker looking for the next challenge up.

The dirt trail leading down to the falls winds back and forth a few times without any major views, but the gorgeous falls at the bottom are so worth it! Falls from above merge into a river fall from the lower forest, and it makes a truly unique scene! I loved capturing a few pictures of the falls! Was not overly crowded and had ample time to view the beauty. It is a basically all up hill trail coming back up, and although not at all steep, I would keep that in mind if you are taking very young kids to see the falls!

This drive was so beautiful and a wonderful way to explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes area! The views out to the lake and dunes are breathtaking. I love that it gives you so many varied views of the area - within more forested areas, views out to Lake Michigan, and of course the dunes themselves. Highly recommend enjoying the variety this drive and park have to offer!

I did this kayak trip in the winter, and aside from the frigid temperatures, it was perfect for a beginning kayaker like myself! There were icebergs everywhere, which made it fun and interesting to paddle around them. It also was a huge help when getting close to Lake Michigan, as it greatly reduced any big waves that I may have run into. Even in winter, the scenery was beautiful!

St. Joseph's is definitely an awesome place to visit, especially in the warm summer months! The town and beach itself have such a fun, vacation atmosphere, but I did especially enjoy walking the pier and getting to see the sunset over the water. Take a good camera to capture some pictures of the long beach sunset!

It's just one of those iconic spots you've got to see in Yellowstone! Very tall geyer and always right on time. There's a great visitor center and you can get up close to the base of the geyser, although there are substantial summertime crowds. I really enjoyed the area around Old Faithful - you can see fields with geysers throughout - truly feels like you're on another planet! However be wary of setting your expectations too high. Old Faithful was far from my favorite or most memorable feature seen in the park, but is certainly still worth seeing once!

Old Man Cave is one of the best and most well known hikes in the beautiful Hocking Hills State Park; a must see if you're in the area! The falls and Cave are a family friendly hike, but be sure to wear the right shoes as it can be a bit slippery in spots! The rock formations are huge and unique, especially in Ohio. I especially love going in Autumn when the beautiful fall colors are coming out. It can be a bit crowded, so an earlier start might be the way to go!

Old Faithful used to be what came to mind when I thought of Yellowstone, but not anymore! This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip; I had no idea the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone was a thing. It's views are unlike anything else you'll see in the park, and the rich colors of the canyon made it look like a watercolor painting. A fairly easy hike and a little crowded, but much less touristy and crowded than Old Faithful.

One of the most iconic attractions in the US (and likely Canada too), Niagara Falls is just one of those things that ought to be on your bucket list. It definitely is a tourist attraction, and if crowds make you squirm, this might not be your top vacation destination. If you can brave that, is easy to spend all day exploring these beautiful and enormous falls! From a photography standpoint, one of the most sought after shots is to capture the "rainbow over the falls", that can often be seen on sunny days. I also would highly recommend doing the Maid of the Mist (a boat ride at the base of the falls) and Cave of the Winds (a chance to explore the natural caves under the Bridal Veil falls). These additional adventures are an additional cost, but give you unique and memorable view of the falls.

This hike has been a family favorite my whole life and maintains it's beauty all year long! You can take the Upper or Low Rim trail and either have the big picture view looking down on the gorge or be right along the water! Among Ohio's fields and long rolling hills, the steep rock cliffs and rushing river are a welcome and unique change. A scenic hike great for senior photos, studying local plants and bugs, and taking a short escape from the surrounding towns and cornfields!