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Showing posts from June, 2013

National Park Series 5: Grand Teton and Yellowstone

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Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone is a mountain wild land, home to grizzly bears, bison, elks and wolves. It is the core of one of the last natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone and famous for remarkable geysers. Dubbed ‘the mountains of the imagination", Grand Teton offers a beautiful landscape where visitors can explore over two hundred miles of trails, float the Snake River and enjoy its serenity. While millions of visitors go to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to climb, hike, kayak, fish and see the wildlife, the American wilderness and the kind of mythic landscape that Norman MacLean had in mind when he wrote "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it," attract many photographers. These postcards come to Green Caviar Travel blog from my friend, Sherry Mullins – a very talented photographer. #1 Grand Teton  A River Runs Through It  Postcard Perfect #2 Grand Teton A River Runs Through It As seen

National Park Series 4: Golden Gate National Parks

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My Best Kept Secret When you go to San Francisco, don't just take photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. Experience it! Drive to the Presidio. You have probably heard of Lombard Street, the most famous street in San Francisco, so drive west onto Lombard Street and enter the Presidio from there. You will see the sign at the gate, "Established 1776". The Presidio has more than 200 years of military history - from Spanish years, Mexican years and American years. You will immediately see brick buildings and on a clear day, the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. You will pass a cluster of brick buildings, where the Disneyland Museum is located. Skip the Disneyland Museum and find Lincoln Blvd. There are many road constructions under the Marina Blvd highway as of this writing.   Watch for signs of detour.   Just make sure to stay on Lincoln Blvd towards Crissy Field .   It is okay though to get lost in the Presidio.   If you are lost, you would be lost in the Presidio fores

National Park Series 3: Muir Woods, Northern California

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A Walk in the Woods with Keats The last time I visited Muir Woods, I hiked the Dipsea towards the summit and descended the equivalent of 680 steps to Stinson Beach. I also complained about not being able to take pictures with my phone camera. Click on the link for the story: http://www.greencaviartravelblog.com/search/label/Dipsea On a recent visit,  I wanted to  retrace my steps from that Dipsea hike, but few minutes after our ascent, I was gasping for breath.   I was not in shape, perhaps from months of continued traveling and not having a daily workout routine. When my lungs finally calmed I saw the place, literally and figuratively, in a new light. The hike became a meandering in the woods.  We took lots of pictures and completed a five-mile hike looping from Dipsea Trail to Ben Johnson Trail to Muir Woods visitor entrance. Lover of loneliness, and wandering, Of upcast eye, and tender pondering! Thee must I praise above all other glories That smile us on to tell

National Park Series 2: Washington, DC and What Lies Beyond the Nation's Capital

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The commissioning event that included the color parade and graduation ceremony and hearing president Obama addressed the graduates at the Naval Academy, and perhaps the visit to the Museum of Civil War in Baltimore stirred patriotism in me and encouraged me to explore historical places in the country I call home. I decided to take advantage of the rental, fuel-efficient GLK350 and its GPS to discover the Beltway. I drove West onto US50 to Washington, DC. Driving through a freeway walled by trees and greenery and not by stucco or concrete, I felt as if I was traveling through the countryside. It made driving pleasant. The drive from Annapolis to DC took less than 40 minutes, but as we arrived in the city, the enclosed surrounds of streets, the noise of cars and motorbikes, and the traffic were a harsh reminder why I would prefer to leave the driving to someone else on road trips. It took us more than 30 minutes just driving around the city and looking for parking. Since some o