John Clairmont

This sign is on the mountainous decline just before you reach town. There's a small parking lot that fills up quick in peak season, but most people only spend a few minutes here on their way in to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. It is easy enough to have people take your picture, just make sure you return the favor and offer to take the next group's picture. From here, you have a g...

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...

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...

The George Rogers Clark Park has over 6 miles of nature hiking trails as well as a fishing pond. There are large A-frames at several points in the park to set up for the afternoon and grill some hotdogs, and plenty of field space to lay out some blankets and break out the picnic basket. The biggest attraction for this park, however, is the opportunity to take in some history, both of this land ...

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...

The best part about this adventure? It is FREE!  Free parking, free WiFi, and yes, you can see all sorts of planes from the SR-71 Blackbird to past Air Force Ones, all without paying a dime. Some planes you are even able to walk through to get a good look of the interiors! This is one of the best museums I have been to, and there are extremely informative signs all along the way. Most of the st...

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...

Like forests? Like fields? How bout running in them? If so, this is the park for you! There's a map at the parking lot to help you navigate each trail and plan your route. The parking lot also has plenty of space and a porta-john. Trails are short, but you can mix and match them to create the distance you want to go that day. If it is warm you can run through the woods, but if you're seeking so...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

This six mile section of the Chestatee River is a safe, enjoyable float mostly away from civilization. There are several small rapids and bumpy areas (class 1) throughout, with two larger rapids (class 1-2) towards the end of the section. It does get pretty shallow in some sections, so keep watch and steer clear of bigger rocks! We saw many turtles sunbathing on the banks and on partially subme...

This beautiful lake and small town are tucked away in the Dolomite Mountains. It is the largest lake in Cadore, and also was the last outdoor location ever used for an Olympic speed skating event. There is ample parking alongside the lake along with a dock where you can set up your tripod. On a clear day you'll be able to see the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, though this area is just as pretty o...

In this specific case, the adventure is focused on the sounds. At night in September and October you can expect to hear the eerie bugling from Elk reverberating around the mountains. Even after an hour or two I was still getting goose-bumps listening to them.  Start your adventure at the Fall River entrance to the park, driving slowly and with the windows down to hear for elk as you may pass b...

Originally used as a wildfire outpost, Lilly Lookout was donated in 1942 and moved to the State Park to serve as a radio communications tower. It also serves as a public observation tower where visitors can climb most of the way up, though the booth at the top is usually locked. The tower is located near the park office right by the start of Trail #10. There is plenty of parking next to the to...

The Dayton area is home to many major technological advances, including the cash register, the Bombe code-breaking machine, plutonium triggers for early atomic bombs, car self-starters, self-cooled refrigerators, and so much more. Probably most well known is the Wright airplane, which was developed and built in Dayton but first flown in North Carolina. This is why Ohio is known as the "Birthpla...

This adventure begins at a parking lot within the Englewood East MetroPark, right at the trailhead for the white trail. Begin the hike into the woods, following the well-marked path through points 1 and 2. Continue straight on the white path until you hit point 7, where you will switch over to the green path and keep walking toward point 6. The first waterfall of the hike, Martindale Falls, is ...

Tours are offered in English or Italian, and a wine tasting is included. You can chose between 3 or 5 wines, and for an additional fee they offer local salami and cheese to accompany your tasting. Overall the price is very affordable considering you get to experience the whole process and have a few glasses of wine at the end, including a glass of their most expensive (100 euro) bottle.  Their...

Officially opened in 1975, Buck Creek State Park is home to a 2,120 acre lake with 1,896 acres of land consisting of forests, meadows, a beach, and two dams. On a warm summer day, this beach is the place to be! Plenty of free parking and plenty of space to spread out. It is the only beach in Springfield, and only one of a few in Ohio. Sure, the sand more closely resembles small pebbles, and in ...

The Dolomites in this area are absolutely stunning, and you can pair these massive mountains well in pictures with small towns like Auronzo, Reane, and Misurina. It may be a bit cold, but going in October or later will allow you to see the mountains with some snow sprinkled among the peaks. If you enjoy more strenuous adventures, there are tons of great hikes in this area including the famous ...

Hills & Dales MetroPark is surprisingly large, spanning 63 acres and nestled between two golf courses. When hiking here, it is quite easy to forget that it is surrounded by a city and is just a couple miles south of Dayton. The Adirondack Trail is the most prominent trail in the park, winding around to run through or adjacent to most of the main features of the park. These include the seren...