Capturing the Moment

   Even though she happened to visit during the hottest week that I've had this summer in Stowe, it was a wonderful time with mom, or as the kids call her, Grandma Nancy. We went on hikes to waterfalls, explored new swimming holes, spent a stormy night out at Stave Island, checked out a movie (Hoppers) on the green up at the mountain, rode the Gondola up Mt Mansfield for a fancy lunch at the Cliff House, went indoor rock climbing with the kids, and had some lovely morning strolls. It was pretty nonstop, but we really got to do a lot, and really experience the beauty of summer in Vermont. I hope we get to all be together soon. Here are a few pictures to remember the visit.... A hidden cabin along the Mill Creek Trail to Bingham Falls Mill Creek Trail Lunch at the Cliff House. This is way up near the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. To get here you can take a ride in the gondola. We could see all the way to New Hampshire on this beautiful day! Back down at the botto...

  Beautiful view from above of Wailua Falls. Almost no one gets to see from this angle unless they fly over in a helicopter. There are amazing hikes and waterfalls on all of the Hawaiian Islands. But there is something special about how easy it is on Kauai to experience some of the best that the island has to offer. Many of these waterfalls in this post, you can drive right up and check out from an easy overlook. We did a easy/moderate hike to another waterfall called Ho'opi'i falls, which was well worth it. All of this post was done in one day, and all are relatively close together. We saw three waterfalls and did three hikes. Waterfalls: Wailua Falls, Opaeka'a Falls, and Ho'opi'i Falls Hikes: Hoopii Falls Trail, Sleeping Giant, Tree Swing This island is just filled with adventure. If you have never been, definitely check it out. Rent a car, drive for two days, and you will see so much of the same stuff. Wailua Falls, tumbling down into a swimming hole that is only...

  View from the drone. This aerial shot is of the channel leading out of the lagoon at Anini Beach, one of the north shores most well-kept secret beaches. When you visit the island of Kauai, it is worth spending an entire day driving and exploring the North side of the island. There are so many hidden beach, snorkel spots, photo and wildlife hot spots, the towns of Kilauea and Hanalei, caves, and beautiful scenery around every turn. In fact, you might need more than one day. We tried to stop at all the hot spots. We saw nesting sea birds at the Kilauea Lighthouse, walked out to the end of the Hanalei Pier, flew my drone at Anini Beach, and even hiked up the Kalalau Trail into the Na Pali coast at the end of the road. We stopped to see the biggest taro patches in the state, and roadside snack shops in historic plantation buildings. The rains definitely came in, the closer we got to the end of the road. But that just added more waterfalls to the cliffs. Everything was green as it usu...