Christian MurilloExplorer

The Deering Estate is a magnificent and historic property with a home built in 1900.  To see the house and check out its immediate property, you will need to pay to enter the gates.  However, just 50 yards south of the entry to the Estate is a small service road that leads down to the "People's Dock" on Biscayne Bay.   After you park in the main Deering parking area, you will walk down this ser...

Stripmine Falls is not the biggest waterfall in the area, but it is both beautiful and accessible with just a short and easy out-and-back (or loop) hike.  The additional attraction of cool swimming pools along Chickamauga creek make this an ideal destination for a day full of relaxation and adventure.  The trailhead is located just 25 minutes north of Chattanooga, nearest to the township of Sod...

Capitol Reef National Park is filled with excellent hikes, and the hike to the Golden Throne should not be left out of the conversation.  This hike is 2WD accessible, has moderate distance, and decent elevation gain, making it a great hike and exercise for everyone.  The trail begins from the Capitol Gorge Trailhead and Parking Area.  There is not a ton of parking here, so if you go on the week...

Sweetwater Creek State Park lies just about 20 minutes West of Downtown Atlanta.  An easy drive along I-20 from the large city makes this park a very popular destination, especially on the weekends.  Out of the parks three main trails, the Red Trail is by far my favorite.  Scenic river views and a stop by the ruins of a burnt down civil war era manufacturing mill are the main highlights.  If yo...

North Georgia is packed with awesome mountain trails, but few boast the beauty and magnitude of the Appalachian Trail. The hike from Blood Mountain to Cowrock Mountain is one of the more scenic sections of the AT in Georgia, in terms of mountain views.  Do this hike as a full day hike, or spread it out into a two day backpacking trip to catch some awesome sunset and sunrise views.  The hike st...

Red Top Mountain State Park finds itself just 30 minutes up I-75 from the urban sprawl of Atlanta, and it is surprising how quickly you can forget exactly how close you are to the city with just one night of camping here.  The State Park has a range of activities to offer, so there is bound to be something that will make for a great camping experience for your friends and family.  With over 90 ...

Getting to Helton Creek Falls can be a little bit tricky. You can either access the trailhead from 348 (the less popular, more adventurous route), or you can access the trailhead easily off of highway 19.  The reason why access from 348 is a bit tricky is that the road actually has two creek crossings, so make sure your car has very good clearance and ideally 4WD.   Once you get to the trailhea...

The Econ River Wilderness Trail is a largely unnoticed section of preserved land, although it is just 1.5 miles away from University of Central Florida and nestled between residential communities.  This trail might not be the most interesting or dramatic trail in all of Central Florida, but what always intrigued me most was the variety of flora that you see in such a short hike.  This trail has...

Lake Burton is, in my opinion, Georgia's most scenic large lake.  It is completely surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and has some of the clearest water in the state.  Moccasin Creek State Park is a great launching point for all of your paddling adventures, whether you own your own vessel or want to rent one at the park.   If you have your own canoe/kayak/SUP, you can take off from the Mocc...

The Arkaquah Trail is unique as far as North Georgia trails go for any reasons.  Its elevation gain and distance puts it near the top for most challenging day hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  If the 11 miles round-trip sounds a bit daunting, this hike can also be done as a 5.5 mile point-to-point, with one car at Track Rock Gap and another at the Brasstown Bald Visitors Center.  When combine...

Stephen C. Foster State Park is a hot spot for Georgia wildlife. The swamps and bodies of water attract alligators, black bears, herons, turtles, and more. The park is ideal for birding or simply enjoying the sounds of nature. Choose from campsites, cottages, lodge, or pioneer camp for a cozy stay. Activities range from hiking to kayaking.Get more information and book your campsite at http://ga...

What could be better than laying on soft sand, listening to the crashing waves, and gazing at Florida's best sun and stars?  Cape Canaveral National Seashore has 14 primitive campsites, with only two of them on the beach and the other twelve located on Mosquito Lagoon.  This park has a 40-mile stretch of undeveloped seashore, which is truly a rare gem in Florida.  The park is located just north...

When most people think of Bali, they think about its countless resorts, relaxing spas, or epic waves.  Although all of these things have something great to offer, there is nothing quite like trekking in pure darkness to see one of the most incredible sunrises unravel in front of your eyes.  Be warned, you will not be the only one with the Mt. Batur summit vantage point of an Indonesian sunset o...

I would like to preface this adventure by saying that if you prefer to bike Shark Valley, please reference Rob Witt's adventure "Bike through Shark Valley".  Biking is certainly the best way to see the whole trail, and not spend the entire day doing it.  Hiking (really walking) this trail is a slightly different than taking the tram or riding a bicycle for several reasons.  At a slower moving p...

Just about 15km west of Denmark, Australia is one of Western Australia’s coolest beaches.  Elephant Rocks is just about 200 yards east of the popular Greens Pool.  A short walk east from the main parking area will take you down a series of stairs that will lead you to the beach of Elephant Rocks.  The beach here is actually quite small, but more than large enough for the traffic that this beach...

As Tumbling Rock Cave is a private property owned and controlled by SCCI, a permit is required to access the cave.  Permits can only be applied for online here, and once granted, SCCI will provide the exact location of the cave.  Caving is not only an inherently dangerous activity due to difficult navigation, lack of light, and hypothermic conditions, but caves are also extremely sensitive envi...

The Appalachian Trail does not need a lot of hype beyond its existing legendary status.  However, there are certain parts of it that do stand out as being a little extra special.  Siler Bald is one of those spots.  A large clearing starting from Snowbird Gap and going all the way up to Siler Bald provides some of the best views on the North Carolina section of the AT.  The trail starts from Wa...

Black Rock Mountain State Park is Georgia's highest elevation State Park.  It is adorned with several waterfalls, sweeping overlooks, blooming Rhododendron's, and plenty of miles of trail.  The James E. Edmond trail is the longest and by far most challenging hike in the park.  Its medium-long distance and steep descents and climbs make it a killer half-day workout, or an awesome backpacking adv...

The East Palisades trail is one of the only real hiking trails within Atlanta's perimeter.  Although it boasts surprising beauty and great trails, relatively few people in the city are aware this trail even exists.  As part of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, this section of forest is very well preserved and boasts some of the best views along the Chattahoochee river.  Even though th...

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,507 feet, which is spread across the Bolivian and Peruvian altiplano (high plains).  On the Bolivian side of the lake lies one of the most beautiful places in the entire country, Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun).  The small island is a home to several native communities, and boasts exquisite natural beauty and fascinating history.  ...

The Appalachian Trail is arguably the most famous thru-hike in the world.  Along its 2,181-mile journey, there are many beautiful mountain views, and Preachers Rock is definitely one of them.  A large granite slab near the summit of Big Cedar Mountain reveals mountain views that are truly the epitome of what North Georgia is all about. Just 1.5 hours North of Atlanta, the Woody Gap trailhead...

Whiteside Mountain is simply breathtaking, there is no way around it.  Views of the mountain from the South expose its sheer granite face, which runs almost its entire length East-to-West.  However, the views of the mountain are just the beginning, as this hike climbs to higher heights than just about all of the surrounding mountains within sight.  Do not get fooled by the impressive prominence...

Vogel State Park is one of the many beautifully preserved wilderness parks of Northern Georgia.  With a stunning alpine lake and 17 miles of trails, you cannot go wrong.  The Bear Hair Trail is the perfect mid-distance option that will reward you with both great views of the lake from a high vantage point and a great exercise through the beautiful forest.   Starting just a stones throw away fro...

Nestled at the foot of Blood Mountain is one of Georgia's most scenic State Parks.  With over 90 campsites and 35 charming cottages, 17 miles of hiking trails, a beautiful alpine lake, and a charming waterfall, Vogel State Park highlights all of the best things that North Georgia has to offer.  The 90 campsites are split between RV/camper sites and walk-in tent sites.  Some can be used for eith...