In honor of being in Arizona this weekend…
I haven’t been to many places within Arizona, but I do recall the trees lining the Grand Canyon and think of them as a highlight for my trips there. Here are a few photos from those trips, either in Grand Canyon National Park or Kaibab National Forest. I’m not sure, nor does it matter because the trees are all beautiful. Happy Forest Friday — go find a tree!
I recently flew up to Michigan to visit my family over a VERY quick weekend… we’re talking, I got in Saturday at 1AM and left Monday at 5AM. Crazy quick, but I did get some quality walks in that included being between some trees. The wind through the trees was a welcomed replacement for the CONSTANT traffic noise I live near here in Texas. Enjoy these beautiful, northern trees. Happy Forest Friday!
In Texas, it feels like summer. Reports from friends/family in Michigan say it still feels like winter. Here are a few photos from April of 2009, almost to this exact week, where spring was surely sprung. I hope you find the forest, or the forest finds you. Get out there!
Location: Aman Park (Michigan)
Land of the Odawa and Peoria
Continuing with the theme of the week… Michigan’s lovely coast. These photos are from the summer of 2010, and I’m almost 95% sure it was at the Rosy Mound Natural Area near Grand Haven, Michigan. My memory is a little rusty, but with the dunes in the distance and the Forest Overlook sign, I’m almost sure of it. Either Way, enjoy some coastal forest photos from where I spent the majority of my life.
When I think of Big Bend National Park, I think of the Chisos Mountains and the forest that covers them. Piñon Pine, also known as Mexican Pine, cover the hills and were a highlight for me on a recent trip. Enjoy a few photos of that glorious tree within the landscape that is Big Bend National Park.
ALRIGHT, I have a few minutes so I thought I’d throw together some of my favorite photos from the 2009 road trip we had in Northern California. Now, I’ve revisited in 2016 and it’s still (or more) magical and again in 2017 with the same feelings. Enjoy some sun streaming through some big, green trees! Happy Friday, Happy Forest Friday, and just Happy Day. Find the joy, find the forest, and have a good one.
I spend a lot of time in the city. I live in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and it can take hours to get through it all to escape as the sprawl is out of control. When I’m at home, I try to find little parks that have trees and a nice path to take the dog for a walk. Here are some photos of the paved paths at River Legacy Park in Arlington, Texas. This park has miles and miles of paved paths connecting multiple areas throughout the city. There are always shaded paths to seek refuge in the summer and little openings to find the sun in the winter. Enjoy a few photos of the places I am fortunate enough to have found!
Are you sick of hearing about Minnesota? Last week I shared photos from the 2018 trip, including some snowy trees, but honestly do snow covered trees ever get old? (maybe to some, but not to me) This will be the last post about it, for a little while anyway…maybe, I can’t make any promises. Enjoy some snow covered trees from my weekend in Minnesota. (Read about the “hike” here)
When you read this post, I’ll be on my way to a cabin off the grid… the one I wrote about on Wednesday. Anyway, I wanted to share some snowy forest photos from the past few times I visited in the winter so you have an idea of what it’s like where I’m at. The forecast is zero or below and lots of snow and clouds, so it’ll likely be less cherry than these, but it’ll be quiet and secluded as always. Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Back in September of 2017, I visited the Ouachita National Forest in southeastern Oklahoma. This is a gem that sit only a few hours away from me that I need to revisit this year, FOR SURE. Enjoy some photos fro my morning that day and may you find the forest today and everyday.
This week I go back to Rocky Mountain National Park. I haven’t been there since 2014, and I really need to get back. This was a little spot called Lake Irene that was a quick walk from the main road. I hope you can find the forest, even if it’s just through this post! Enjoy and happy Forest Friday!
I’ll be heading to Northern Minnesota in early February to brave the cold and snow to go off the grid for a few days. I’ve talked about it before, but my friend’s cabin is one of my favorite places in the whole world. The cabin is a short hike or paddle from the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and surround by Natoinal Forest on the other side. It is peaceful, quiet, and the perfect retreat.
If you’ve followed me, you know the BWCAW is important to me but also an important part of Northern Minnesota. I support Save The Boundary Waters which is a nonprofit set up to promote the preservation of the Boundary Waters. If you want more information, would like to donate to the cause, want to find ways to get involved, and/or need a link to leave a public comment against mining in or near the Boundary Waters, click HERE.
From Save The Boundary Waters homepage - they said it better than I could.
“On December 20, the Trump Administration’s U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will renew Chilean mining giant Antofagasta’s Twin Metals mining leases. This action is intended to avoid America’s bedrock environmental laws to allow dangerous sulfide-ore copper mining on public lands next to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for the benefit of a foreign mining company.
The Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters is leading the effort to ensure permanent protection for the Boundary Waters Wilderness, America's most visited Wilderness and Minnesota's crown jewel, from proposed sulfide-ore copper mining. “
Here are some photos from a trip taken in September of 2015. I can’t wait to get up there and snowshoe down to the BWCAW and hide out from everything going on in the world for a few days. Please join me in supporting the efforts to protect this special place. Happy Friday and may you find the forest - even if it’s just through this post.
When I first saw them in person, I was in love. When I read about them, and their resilience, I was inspired. Enjoy some photos of the majestic and tough bristlecone pine trees from 2017 visits to Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument.
I love the giant trees of Redwood National & State Parks. I seriously think of them on a weekly basis and always try to find a way to get back to them. I love standing under them, hiking with them, and driving very slowly through them. Enjoy a few photos of the drive along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. (Photos from August 2017)
Enjoy some scenes from December 2015. Enjoy the forest, or at least some photos of one… The Ocqueoc River and falls are minutes from my childhood home. I know this is probably more river than forest, but I think it satisfies the tree quota!
In following the the theme for this week, I’m going to share some outdoor photos from our trip to Michigan for Christmas in 2017. Enjoy the winter wonderland! I hope you get a chance to sneak out to the forest soon! (Bonus, dogs included at no extra charge haha!)
One of my favorite places to escape to on a quick weekend journey is the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. There are endless campgrounds and plenty of good views to go around. The trees are tall, the air is a little thinner, and the skies are GORGEOUS in any weather. I’m thankful to have such beautiful places within 9 hours of my house. I’ll drive all night to get to camp in the SFNF for an evening because it is just that wonderful. Where do you like to escape for the weekend?
Sunset in the Santa Fe National Forest
Bright morning hike in the Santa Fe National Forest
Rain on the horizon in the Santa Fe National Forest
Kenai Fjords National Park is somewhere I’d like to revisit for a bit longer than we did. I loved hiking up to see the glacier, but I’d like to spend more time there and see even more. Beyond that, I remember the trail to the glacier and the little bit of forest it went through. There were creek crossings, glacier runoff creeks, and tons of greenery. Enjoy a couple of photos from the forest on the way to the glacier. Happy Forest Friday!
Back in 2015 I visited my Dad’s property in Northern Michigan and took these photos. Enjoy a little escape to the snow covered woods behind my childhood home. I hope the winter ahead brings plenty of forest adventures!
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