I have always enjoyed my weekly view of Mount Rainier from the window of an airplane…

Our weather was absolutely perfect this last weekend so the hubby and I decided it was time to actually go to the Mount Rainier National Park and truly experience this beauty up close and personal…

It is a vast area of beautiful wilderness.  There are so many hiking trails to choose from and explore.  We saw lots of bikers – both bicycles and motorcycles!  People brought their dogs and even their pumpkin carving project!

There are plenty of spots with benches to just sit and marvel at this volcano…

If you have the chance to visit this beauty, DO IT!

Wyoming – The Grand Tetons – Overwhelming beauty! 

Oh my goodness – I felt like singing – “the hills are alive, with the sound of music”.  These mountains take your breath away! 

On the way to our day of hiking, we stopped at the Episcopal Chapel of the Transfiguration.  This little chapel had the most magnificent view of the mountain range!

We then headed to Jenny Lake  to catch a boat shuttle over to the Cascade Canyon to do some hiking.  The weather forecast called for a chance of thunderstorms so we decided to get over to the trails before the weather turned on us.  See those clouds starting to build?

Cascade Canyon offers a variety of trails and plenty of vistas and wildlife to see.  We hiked past Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, and up the Cascade Creek Trail.  A bull moose decided to take the same trail we were on so we got some great shots of him.  We also saw a marmot which is similar in appearance to a badger.

We hiked 6 miles and then headed off to see more of the national park.

We came upon another chapel – The Chapel of the Sacred Heart. The stained glass window was just gorgeous!

We then headed back to Jackson Hole to check into the inn we were staying at for the night – Oh so delightfully quaint and charming!

More photos to come of this wonderful state!

 I am linking to Blue Monday over at Sally’s and Mosaic Monday over at Mary’s

 

I decided to play along with Susan over a A Southern Daydreamer!  She hosts Outdoor Wednesdays and I finally have managed to put an Outdoor Wednesday post together! Click the fun button above to play along or to see more Outdoor Wednesday posts…

Last Tuesday I decided to take a walk after work.  The weather was quite warm in Southern California and I wanted to discover more of the 22 mile “Mountains to Sea Trail”. 

This trail is part of the historic 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch.  It is also called the Irvine Coast Trail.  The entire trail is broken down into three parts: Orange to Tustin; Tustin to Irvine; Irvine to Newport Beach.  The area I was walking in is the Irvine to Newport segment.

 One of the trail entrances is about a mile from my office.  Here are some photos that I took on my walk:

A portion of the trail runs along UC Irvine’s Ecological Study Area.  This area attracts all sorts of creatures and plant life. 

 

 I just love the one picture of the bunnies in the bottom left corner.  They were trying to be so still and quiet so I wouldn’t notice them.

On my flight back to Washington on Thursday evening, I realized that we took off right over the trail and I was able get an aerial shot of the area I walked!  Check it out, I marked my route…

Spring Training in Arizona is not only about baseball!  If you come to Arizona for Spring Training, take a day and enjoy the spectacular desert beauty that Arizona offers.  We headed to Sedona on Saturday to do some hiking and exploring.  What a beautiful place to see and admire God’s glorious creation!

Sedona is home of the of the redrock monoliths named Coffepot, Cathedral, Bell and even Snoopy because their massive shapes resemble these objects.  The church in the collage above is the The Chapel of the Holy Cross.  This chapel is a great start to a day filled with hiking and exploring.

We also discovered the beautiful flowers and cactus of the Arizona desert.  I was able to get a picture of a bird finding some shade in one of the succulents.

There are so many hiking trails and scenic views in Sedona.  You really need more than one day to discover this beautiful area!  I would highly recommend a visit in spring – the temperatures are really nice for hiking at that time of the year!

Okay, we are now off to the Angel/Dodger game.  Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

On my way to the grocery store, I decided to do some exploring (this is becoming a habit).  I made a stop at the Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore, WA. MY OH MY what a park!

This park is a place of history.  In the late 1920s, Bishop O’Dea of the Seattle Catholic Diocese purchased the property with his own inheritance and donated it to the diocese for use as a seminary.  The seminary was built in 1931 and was named for Edward the Confessor, founder of Westminster Abbey and king of the West Saxons of England in the 11th Century.

For many years the seminary was operated as a boy’s school and seminary.  Then in the fall of 1977, the Seattle Diocese sold the 316 acres, including the seminary buildings, to the state of Washington for use as a park.  In June of 1978, the grounds of Saint Edward State Park were opened to the public.

 

 Saint Edward Park is the largest remaining undeveloped area on Lake Washington.  It is an absolutely gorgeous place with sprawling lawns and lush, forested trails.  The trails range from easiest to most difficult.  The difficult trails can get narrow and steep, but the views are amazing!  If you find yourself in Kenmore, WA, I highly recommend a long visit to Saint Edward State Park – You’ll be glad you did!

Here are some other creatures and plant life I discovered while exploring…