Even though so many signs of city life were surrounding me, with the canopy of the trees above and birds flitting from branch to branch, and the sound of the shallow creek cascading over the rocky bottom, I felt like I was walking in a forest.

If you have been here before then you know that my adventures often do not go as planned. This is an example of that – except in a good way. With giant trees and abandoned bunkers and an old water tower and interpretive signs and a bridge and an ocean view, my plans couldn't hold a candle to what was in store.

It was the middle of winter, a blanket of clouds hovered above the trees, it was cold enough to see my breath, precipitation fluctuated between a heavy mist and a light sprinkle, the ground was muddy in some areas, and the trees were covered in bright green moss. It’s like a party is happening on those bare branches.

I went searching for a place to hike along the coast and found myself in a little state park with several trails that had different look-out points over the pacific.

I opened my eyes and was surrounded by deep red shades of mahogany and rust, browns resembling milk chocolate and cinnamon, and hints of black brushed in long upward strokes along the trunks.

Humans may have built the road, but it is very clear that the forest owns this space and the humans are only visiting.

I had planned for just an hour and ended up spending the whole day at this Living Memorial for the Heroes of Flight 93 on September 11th.

The final leg of the Lighthouse trip took us to the rocky shores of the Atlantic where we could stand next to one lighthouse while staring at another way out at sea.

The first half of my East Coast Lighthouse trip took me to Maryland and the Jersey Shore where I met some of the most amazing people and found my favorite lighthouse.

This easy, flat hike led us through the forest, across a bridge, around an island, and provided stunning views and something that looked like a giant Root Beer Float.

An easy hike on a rainy day where we found mossy trees, lacy lichen, grass growing in the middle of the river, and a glassy pool surrounded by silence.

A quick little nature hike in the middle of town showcasing a plethora of different types of cacti.

A surprisingly beautiful oasis with diverse trees and wildlife, right off the freeway in Tucson.

A quick, paved loop providing expansive views of the gorgeous Saguaro National Park.

An unexpected excursion in the Las Vegas desert.

After experiencing the magic of McCloud Middle Falls, we had to check out the surrounding Lower and Upper Falls. They did not disappoint!

This trail allows hikers to get right down to river level and wade in the water.

A super short hike to panoramic views of two mountains made of greenstone and granite, and a volcano.

This short, flat, wheelchair accessible trail offers mountain views and birdwatching.