Capturing the Moment

  Exploring the Quirky Alaskan town of Whittier 5 MIN READ 917 WORDS Nestled between the towering Chugach Mountains and the pristine waters of Prince William Sound, Whittier, Alaska, is a small town with a big reputation for adventure and unique charm. With a population hovering around 200 residents, this hidden gem offers a rare blend of natural beauty, rich history, and thrilling outdoor activities. Whether you're a seasoned explorer or a casual traveler, Whittier promises an unforgettable experience. Here’s why you should consider adding this enchanting destination to your travel bucket list. I thought this picture summed up the feeling here in Whittier at this time of year. A Town Like No Other Whittier is famous for being accessible primarily through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America. This 2.5-mile marvel is an adventure in itself, taking you through a mountain and delivering you into a town that feels like it...

  Exploring Anchorage, Alaska: The land of the midnight sun 3 MIN READ 543 WORDS The famous Alaska railroad is what started everything here in Anchorage, Alaska. Now it is the biggest city in the state, and a jumping off site for so many amazing adventures. I've taken this beautiful train up to Denali National Park before, but this trip is all about exploring Prince William Sound. I flew in late last night to Anchorage, Alaska to start another season as Expedition Leader aboard the Safari Explorer, a small expedition cruise ship. However, even though this is my ninth season doing this in Alaska, it is my first season running trips in Prince William Sound. The last time I flew into Anchorage it was 2016. Heidi and I took our summer break to come up and explore Seward, Homer, and Denali. Seeing the famous blue and yellow Alaska train brought all the memories of that trip back. Check out the blog post from that trip here: 2016 Alaska Train Ride 2016 Alaska Train Ride My plane landed a...

  Exploring Moss Glen Falls in Vermont 2 MIN READ 298 WORDS Sometimes you don't have to look far from home to find beauty in nature. Today, with my youngest daughter in tow, I set out for adventure at a nearby trail to a beautiful waterfall, called Moss Glen Falls. We live in the Green Mountain State of Vermont, and that means that there are waterfalls all around us. I've been to this waterfall with each of my kids, and it never gets old. I busted out my Merlin bird app near the trail head and it lit up with the sounds of migrating warblers, sparrows, chickadees and even a large great blue heron flew over. The trail then goes through a wetlands area that has been damned off by beavers. Even though the beavers are nocturnal, we can signs off them all around. The trail heads up a big hill and then you get to a beautiful overlook of Moss Glen Falls. It tumbles out of the forest and cascades down to the rocks below. After enjoying the view and avoiding getting too close to the edge...

  First trip of the season to Stave 3 MIN READ 426 WORDS Spring time is here in Vermont, and to be honest it feels almost like summer. Temps are rising to the 80's, the sun is out, and it is that exciting time of year when we take our first trip out to Stave Island to start opening things up. It is still mid May, so we didn't even think to bring bathing suits, but we should have! The kids spent so much time down at the beach, learning that they could paddle board on the knee board, and playing on the floats. The water was pretty cold, but not enough to keep us out! Stave looks good after sitting idle for the winter. The beach is full of driftwood, but that just give me more logs to line the trails with. Susie, Donnie, and I got the water flowing into both houses. And we got most of the heavy shutters off the main house. After Heidi and Donnie did some mowing the place really looks good. Other than the docks not being in and the fridge not hooked up, it feels like mid season out...

  2 MIN READ 354 WORDS Wondering Tattler stalking through the tidepools. Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park is a real hidden gem here on the Kona coast of the Big Island, Hawaii. There was an entire village here, surrounding very important fish ponds, including fresh water springs which would have been vital to life in ancient Hawaii. Lava flows, including one from 200 years ago, have flattened most of the village, but some historical remnants remain. The salt water fish ponds now play home to hungry sea turtles and migrating shore birds. The inland brackish pond is home to endemic waterfowl like Hawaiian coots and Hawaiian black necked stilts. Bird enthusiast are learning that this can be a wonderful place for bird watching. I've seen 18 species of birds here in the span of one morning. You have the benefit of having different ecosystems including offshore, coastal, tide pools, a strip of forest, and a brackish pond. The more ecosystems they have, the more diversity of animal...