July 6, 2009
I haven’t had a non-western blog in a while. A very long time ago we visited the awesome Mammoth Cave National Park in Cave City, Kentucky. It is a totally fun spot for the family to explore.
There are the cave tours. There are more than 70 miles of backcountry trails through forested hills for hikers and bicyclists. There is canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing on the Green River. There is horseback riding on 60 miles of trails. Also possible is camping and backcountry camping. Special family and children’s activities are available, as well – like Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park! These pages from the Mammoth Cave National Park website provide everything you need to plan an expedition in and around the world’s longest known cave.
Then there is a lot more commercialized stuff, too.
Hey, you corvette lovers! The National Corvette Museum is in nearby Bowling Green. Of course, you knew that already…it’s for the rest of us to find!
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Nature Activities, Places to Explore, Sport Activity | Tagged: backcountry hikes, Backcountry Hiking, biking, biking trails, Bowling Green, camping, caving, child, children, Corvette Museum, family, fishing, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, Green River, hiking, hiking trails, horse, horseback riding, Jellystone Park, kayaking, Kentucky, kids, Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park, National Corvette Museum, Places to Go, swimming, world's longest cave, Yogi Bear | 
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Posted by mygrandmasue
June 29, 2009
Have you ever hiked at night by the light of the full moon? Ok, with maybe a little help of a flashlight? In the Reno/Tahoe area there are two series of full moon hikes being offered by two separate groups.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association is offering full moon hikes for members (Membership is $20 annually) starting at the Tahoe Meadows Trail trailhead. Per the event calendar: Everything changes after dark – the trails, the trees, and the lake. Experience the Tahoe Rim Trail in a whole new light with full moon hikes led by experienced hike leaders. Take in inspiring views of the lake as the moon rises over the Lake Tahoe Basin. Experience the peace, tranquility and beauty of the Tahoe Rim Trail at dusk. Expect casually paced hikes for all ages, while slowing down to enjoy the flora and fauna, current happenings in the natural world and nighttime senses.
TRTA Membership is required to attend.
Space is limited; please call the TRTA office at (775) 298-0012 or email katyw@tahoerimtrail.org to reserve your spot. Bring a flashlight, layered clothing and water. This may not be the best hike for children under 10. Please, to respect the night sounds and wildlife, no dogs this time! The dates are July 7, August 6, September 4 and October 4.
The Squaw Valley hiking center guided moon hikes begin at 6:30 p.m. at High Camp (accessible via cable car). The hikes are approximately three hours long and are moderate in level. The dates are July 6 and 7 and August 4 and 5. The cost is $15 for adults, youth and seniors and $5 for children. Bring drinking water and flashlights and wear warm clothing.
The Squaw Valley hiking center also has guided sunset hikes July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 31 and August 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22. For more details call 530-583-6985 or click www.squaw.com
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: child, children, family, Full Moon Hikes, fun, grandchild, grandpa, grandparent, hiking, hiking trails, kids, Lake Tahoe, moon hikes, night hikes, Places to Go, Squaw Valley, Tahoe Rim Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail Association | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
June 16, 2009
The Long Beach Press Telegram carried an Associated Press article by Catherine Teal about the great bargains and beautiful scenery to be enjoyed if you visit Aspen, CO in the non-ski months. I couldn’t find the article on-line, so you’ll need to check out the Aspen Chamber of Commerce website for details. There are 50% off deals for booking over a Wednesday night. What sounded awesome to explore is Maroon Lake in the Maroon Bells wilderness area; however, it sounds like everybody is doin’ it from the USDA Forest Service website. Shuttle buses are in service to help with the traffic jams. This news release from 05/19/2009: On-Mountain Activities, Camp Aspen/Snowmass and Bluegrass Sunday Line Up for Summer 2009 captures oodles of summer events to include Silver Queen Gondola rides, alpine sightseeing and hiking, mountain biking, skateboarding, rock-climbing wall, camping, guided hikes and walks, disc golfing, fishing, backcountry hikes and Hatha yoga, storytelling and campfire sing-alongs.
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore, Sport Activity | Tagged: alpine sightseeing, backcountry hikes, campfire sing-alongs, camping, child, children, disc golfing, family, fishing, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, guided hikes, guided walks, Hatha yoga, hiking, hiking trails, kids, mountain biking, Places to Go, rock-climbing wall, Silver Queen Gondola rides, skateboarding, storytelling | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
May 17, 2009
A friend wanted suggestions for a romantic getaway to celebrate a 1 year milestone and I thought but a minute before coming up with Snoqualmie Falls and Salish Lodge, located about 30 miles from Seattle, Washington. Grandpa Ron and I enjoyed a weekend there many years ago and we still talk about it! It is where we adopted Bear, our first of now very many bears. He was sitting in the middle of the pillows on our bed when we arrived. We paid his adoption fee in the Gift Shop and he has gone on almost every trip we’ve taken anywhere ever since!
Salish Lodge has many scheduled activities that you can participate in. Even if the lodge is too high end for yur budget, Snoqualmie has other hotels and there are other nearby cities to stay. There is hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, whitewater rapids, fishing and golfing galore – and a Railroad Museum!! We loved the train ride and the informative interpretive tour.
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: biking, child, children, family, fishing, fun, golf, golfing, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, Green Hour, hiking, hiking trails, horseback riding, kayaking, kids, nature, Northwest Railway Museum, Places to Go, Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Falls, train, train ride, waterfall, whitewater rapids | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
May 12, 2009
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary of its opening in 1934 with all kinds of special events. Of course there is the normal hiking, horseback riding and bicycle riding and other outdoor activities as well! It is the most visited of all the national parks. Jerry Shriver had an awesome article Power to the people’s park in the May 8, 2009 USA Today paper.
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: biking, child, children, family, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Green Hour, hiking, hiking trails, horseback riding, horseback riding trails, kids, nature, Places to Go | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
April 29, 2009
The Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson, AZ, is a majestic place to hike around. The tall – and very old – Sagauro cacti reach for the sky and you feel so very small – and young – in comparison! So many outdoor activities are available to do: hiking, biking, camping, birding, horseback riding, and wild flower seeking ( in the spring ). Grandpa Ron and I really enjoyed the park.
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Posted by mygrandmasue
April 28, 2009
There are all sorts of activities to do in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Virtual Sierra Nevada website is quite exhaustive: gold panning, hiking, skiing, biking, horseback riding, backpacking, kayaking, river rafting and more. Then there is lots of sightseeing as well – Yes, there are LOTS of little towns: Reno (biggest little), Truckee, Virginia City, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, Bishop, … and beautiful parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, oh, I’ll get myself in trouble by trying to list them all and forgetting some so I’ll stop while I’m ahead…..check out the linked websites!!
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Posted by mygrandmasue
April 27, 2009
Lots of summer activities go on in the Plumas-Eureka State Park besides the usual hiking and fishing and exploring. This year is the 50th anniversary of the park’s opening so there will be special events including “Gold Discovery Days” (July 18-19) planned for visitors this summer. It is part of the California State Park system. Last summer Grandpa Ron and I caught the Living History Day
1 Comment | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: child, children, family, fishing, fun, gold, Gold Discovery Days, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, hiking, hiking trails, kids, Living History Day, Places to Go, Plumas-Eureka, state park | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
April 26, 2009
The Columbia River Gorge is beautiful any time that you visit! Multnomah Falls is probably the most famous of all the waterfalls on the route and the second highest (620 ft) year-round running waterfall in the US, but Grandpa Ron and I enjoyed finding them all. I took lots of pictures. We even brought Gigi, Cyndi, Bella and Austin to see some of them. It is well worth doing!
Quoted from www.bestgorge.com:
“The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range. The Gorge is 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep with the north canyon walls in Washington State and the south canyon walls in Oregon State.”
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: biking, child, children, Columbia River Gorge, family, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, hiking, hiking trails, kids, Multnomah Falls, nature, Places to Go, portland, waterfall | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
April 17, 2009
Grandpa Ron and I are members of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association which maintains and enhances the trail around all of Lake Tahoe! As of April 17, 2009, the trail is still snowed in! See the Tahoe Rim Trail website for lots more interesting information about hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding on the trail.
Leave a Comment » | Nature Activities, Places to Explore | Tagged: biking, biking trails, child, children, family, fun, grandchild, grandchildren, grandma, grandpa, grandparent, Green Hour, hiking, hiking trails, horseback riding, horseback riding trails, kids, Lake Tahoe, mountain bike, Places to Go, Tahoe Rim Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail Association | Permalink
Posted by mygrandmasue
MyGrandmaSue 