John Clairmont

You'll walk on the concrete pier just barely out of reach of the waves (for the most part), allowing for some pretty cool wave and shoreline photos. An occasional wave may wash over low areas of the pier, so always be alert! Also, be careful of the slippery algae, especially close to the edges. There are ladders if you accidentally fall in the water, but the waves can be pretty rough here so it...

This quarter mile course is perfect for those looking for athletic competition, fun challenges, or ninja training. It is located adjacent to the parking lots in the main area of Glacier Ridge Metro Park, so there will always be plenty of parking for your group. There are water fountains at the beginning of the loop, and bathrooms just a short walk across the parking lot. Instructions for each o...

This pavilion is one of the key features along the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail. There is a parking lot a very short hike part way down the mountain, but I recommend backpacking in from a different area to take in more of the beauty of the trail, mountains, and views in this area. Depending on the time of year, you may encounter resting thru-hikers who are willing to share their ...

Feel the burn in your calves and thighs! If you don't feel it, pick up the pace or do it all again! The good news is it is actually just a large dune, not an entire mountain. It should not take you very long to run, even though there are over 200 steps here. Every 25th stair is marked and there are benches kindly placed on the way up and at the top. There is free parking at 2280 Ottawa Beach Rd...

Start your journey in Stokes State Forest at the Culver Gap Parking Lot, located at 41.180239, -74.787954. From the parking lot, jump on over to the Appalachian Trail and hike Northbound. You know you're headed the right way if you are going away from the small town and cross over Sunrise Mountain Rd after about 800 ft on the trail. The hike to the Tower is about 1.6 miles from the parking lot ...

Start your adventure by parking along the road or by the church. Head north up what initially looks like a driveway, though you'll want to stay to the right and follow the path. From there keep following the path straight, and when in doubt follow the red/white blazes or the signs for the cross (croce). The path is fairly wide, and you may have to share it with bikers at times since this is jus...

This loop was a phenomenal trip for a beginner/intermediate canoe group. There are longer or shorter trips that can start in the same area, so get creative and draft a schedule that works best for your group! The Lakes: Beautiful and clear, quite deep. The paddling is mostly easy, although you may battle some winds across the bigger lakes. We happened to be out on the first lake during a heavy ...

The feeder area is located in Peace Valley Park, tucked right behind the Peace Valley Nature Center. Here is where you'll find many unique smaller species. The shelter is covered and has several benches to relax on as you watch and photograph many varieties of birds. I've seen many blue jays and cardinals here, which are my personal favorites because of their bold colors. Don't forget to also t...

Holland State Park has a variety of activities available, the most prominent of course being swimming and relaxing on the beach. You can lay out towels and sunbathe, throw a frisbee or football in the large sand area away from the water, or play sand volleyball on one of the many courts. There is also a basketball court and a few good trees to set up hammocks. When the conditions are right I've...

Take the whole family out on an afternoon adventure to Bill Yeck Park!  This park has over 6 miles of hiking trails, spanning all levels of difficulty and terrain, including pavement, crushed gravel, mowed grass, and dirt paths. They range from 0.5 miles (red trail) to 3.0 miles (yellow trail), with the longest one following and crossing over Sugar Creek several times. If you enjoy hiking or ba...

The start and end of this adventure is at the dead end of Holly Drive. There is a small boat launch parking lot that sometimes has a porta-john, although I would not count on it. You can kayak upstream (to the right) to enjoy a peaceful paddle around and through the reeds, and I have seek many muskrats up that way. This adventure focuses on paddling the ever increasing difficulty that downstrea...

This course has some tough points, especially with some water hazards, but for the most part is very forgiving. In many places you can retrieve any discs you lose to the creek, and there aren't any areas of dense thicket or tall grasses that are prone to hide discs so well. Most of the holes are par 3, and I appreciate the variety as each hole is quite interesting and distinct. There are elevat...

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, these massive water fountains operate several times each day according to a rigid schedule: 10-minute intervals at the top of the hour, Mon.-Fri., 6:55 AM-9:55 PM and weekends 10:55 AM-9:55 PM. The five fountains shoot 2,500 gallons of water per minute 200 feet high and 400 feet wide, with the central geyser also shooting water 200 feet high.  Each fountain s...

The main attraction at the park is of course the large pond, with paved walking trails leading around it. Jutting out into the middle is a covered fishing pavilion, and you're likely to see several people casting rods there and along the southern banks. This metro park also has high quality sand volleyball courts with officiating platforms, four softball diamonds, and several soccer fields. If ...

Hard Truth Distilling Company only just opened in 2015, and already they have experienced massive growth. There are good reasons for this- their spirits are fantastic, the indoor tour still has the "small company" vibe, and they offer ATV tours of the area around the distillery! The indoor tour includes a spirit tasting where you are allowed to select any three of their spirits to try. I highly...

La Vecia Via della Lana translates to "the Old Way of the Wool" which pretty much explains why the path was created. It was once a route that shepherds would use to transport livestock and goods from town to town. In modern times, the path is used for biking and hiking tourism. It spans from Soave to Selva di Progno, reaching just under the 50km mark. It is mostly 2-3 meter wide paved or gravel...

Illasi is the perfect place to take pictures of the beautiful Italian sunset as you'll be able to get vast vineyards and olive groves in each shot. This small town is also tucked between two ridges, so you'll be able to climb up one ridge to get gorgeous shots of the sun setting over the other! This area is very well known for its wine, olive oil, cheese, and snack meats, so be sure to check o...

Begin the run at Connor Bayou, where this adventure's directions lead to. You will follow the Idema Explorers trail into the woods, where you will wind around for about 0.4 miles. As soon as you exit the woods, continue to follow the paved trail that leads to the left along the road. After another half mile, you will reach a parking lot just before the bridge. Pass the lot and take a left up th...

This course, sponsored by Hazy Shade, is not for beginners! It is for disc golfers who have some experience and are willing to challenge themselves and live on the edge. Almost every hole has a water hazard, with several of them being in spots that may cause you to need to stop and switch your game up a quite bit. You'll go back and forth over Buck Creek and ponds as you progress along this len...

St. Louis is well known for this monument, which was built as a monument to those who had explored the frontiers and enabled the western expansion of the United States. It towers over the city skyline, demanding to be noticed and claiming its dominance. The Arch is located in Gateway Arch National Park, a riverfront plot of land with small ponds, trails, some parking areas (though you may need ...

Windmill Island features an authentic and operational Dutch windmill called "De Zwaan" (The Swan) as well as gardens planted with over 100,000 tulips. The windmill was built in 1761 and moved to Holland in 1964. Notably, this windmill is not only the oldest authentic, working Dutch windmill in the United States, but it is also the last windmill to ever have left the Netherlands.  Begin your tri...

Just a short hike down from the parking lot lies a half mile of cliffside full of climbing opportunities! Plenty of variety for different skill levels, although someone in your group will need to lead climb to set up the route first. There are hooks already in place on each route, and you are not allowed to drill and add more. Top rope climbing is also not allowed here. When we came, the parkin...

This section is perfect for the beginner river adventurer or a family with little ones. It is only 2.5 miles long, and is extremely calm and pretty. Depending on river levels and speed, it should take around 60-90 minutes to complete (kayak/canoe). There are also several shores along the way for you to stop and switch up seating arrangements or eat a lunch!  This adventure starts and ends at Ma...

Before you get your hopes up too much, I do need to disclose that the castle grounds are barbed-wire fenced and off limits. Hence why this adventure is focused on photographing the castle, not exploring it. The castle was originally built to control the valley floor paths running in the area, with the more popular castle in Soave also supporting this endeavor. You can get some great pictures f...