Musings
Last Adventurer
#preservethegood

As you’ve seen above, #preservethegood could mean anything – it could mean helping someone in a time of need; it could be picking up trash on a trail, or a wilderness area; it could be educating people on leave no trace principles; it could be making a difference in any way you want; and it could be just about anything you want as long as you are focused in keeping the magic and the unique positive things in this world and this life. In terms of tangible things, I encourage you, my readers and followers to use the hashtag when you post a photo of something amazing; or when you’re talking about something exceptional you – or someone else has done to improve the world. I look forward to seeing how all of you end up preserving the good in 2015, and you can rest assured that as always, I will keep preserving the good where I find it as well, because as Plato says, “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” 

#preservethegood
Hiking, State Parks
Last Adventurer
Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls

As I mentioned previously, Waimea Canyon is a site that is most definitely one of the “must-view” locations on Kauai, and in the world; and as I also mentioned, the best way to experience it is to hike it. While there are many great hikes through the canyon, the best hike in my book is the Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls. It is the best hike to me because at four miles roundtrip, it is accessible, it has stunning views of the canyon from inside the canyon, and it ends at the top Waipoo Falls. It also allows the hiker the chance to swim in a waterfall, which is a once in a lifetime experience.

Canyon Trail to Waipoo Falls
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Torc Waterfall

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Torc Waterfall

Established as a National Park in 1932 to protect some of Ireland’s highest mountains and lakes, Killarney National Park has always been a popular area to visit because of its stunning natural beauty. Today, the National Park is mostly visited by parties who wish to experience the Ring of Kerry, a scenic day, or multi-day drive around the Iveragh Peninsula that covers a portion of the park along with other scenic and historic sites. Depending on the time of year, visitors traversing the Ring of Kerry will either experience an open road, or bumper to bumper traffic; but irrespective of when one visits, the Torc Waterfall is worth a stop for a short walk to stretch one’s legs, and to briefly experience some of the fantastic natural features of the national park.

La Bufadora

La Bufadora

As the “Cinderella of the Pacific”, Ensenada has long been a favorite travel destination for all types of travelers. Although the city has many charms, and has become one of the first stops for many cruises along the Mexican Rivera, one of its most popular and well known spots, “La Bufadora” (The Blowhole) is actually located outside of the city confines. Located at the tip of the Punta Banda peninsula on a rocky outcropping, La Bufadora is a marine geyser and now in 2017, a popular tourist attraction with restaurants, shops, and a museum leading up to the actual blowhole. Like any marine geyser, L a Bufadora is formed by a partially submerged sea cave, which is affected by the tidal flow along the coast. As the waves from the Pacific come into the cave, water and air are trapped, and then forced through an opening at the top. At La Bufadora, the geyser regularly shoots out water over sixty feet, and is considered to be the second tallest marine geyser in the world.

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Mystic Beach

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Mystic Beach

With its empty sand and rock covered beach expanses, to its eerie old growth forests, and its high mountain peaks, Vancouver Island has a plethora of outdoor locations to visit and experience. The island is also home to two challenging and well-known hiking trails, the West Coast Trail, and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail that traverse the southwest corner of the island. While worthwhile, both of these trails are lengthy, challenging affairs that require a multi-day time commitment to complete. Fortunately, for all levels of hikers, there is a short trail at the end of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail that allows everyone to experience the epic scenery of Vancouver Island in a short distance and includes a trek through the forest, a suspension bridge, and a stunning beach with caves and a waterfall. That trail, and that destination is the aptly named Mystic Beach.

The London Eye

The London Eye

With many historic structures, such as Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge, London has always had a number of locations that one could ascend to look out upon the city. But before there was the super high viewing area of the Shard, the tallest public observation point in the city was the London Eye, or as it was previously known, the Millennium Wheel.  While the London Eye was not the first Ferris-wheel type contraption to grace London, the idea for the London Eye was the winning entry to a 1993 contest in which Londoners were asked to design a new landmark for the city that would celebrate the millennium.  And while the London Eye did not open to the public in time for the New Year’s Eve festivities in 1999, it has become one of the most popular London sights and new iconic destinations within the city confines.

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St. Brigid's Well

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St. Brigid's Well

One of the many interesting things about Ireland is that it is a place where the practices of the past and present intersect in modern day life. While there are many examples of the past in modern day Ireland, one of the tangible features that people can experience are the many holy wells that still dot Ireland’s countryside. During the nineteenth century, a survey was taken of the wells that were considered holy, and over 3,000 were considered to have some sort of interesting power. While this number has likely decreased over the course of time, and a subsequent survey has not been conducted, many of these holy wells remain, and are very accessible. One of the most well-known of these wells due to its location near the Cliffs of Moher is St. Brigid’s Well outside of Liscannor.

Review: Malibu Wine Hikes

Review: Malibu Wine Hikes

Although Los Angeles is a large area that defies description due to the variety of things one can do, the popular perception is that outside of industrial highways, the Hollywood sign, and Disneyland, the area is a bit of a barren wasteland. This perception is a shame for numerous reasons, particularly because of the great variety of terrain the region has from alpine to beach, and because of the number of interesting activities that the greater basin provides, including bungee jumping from the Bridge to Nowhere, and sliding down a glass slide in downtown Los Angeles proper. Along these lines comes an activity that was inspired by African safaris, the Malibu Wine Hikes.

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2016 Holiday Gift Guide

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2016 Holiday Gift Guide

From start to finish, the one consistent thing about each year for me is that I use a variety of products to do a number of things. In certain ways, I am a creature of habit and I use certain pieces of gear until they unravel, break or otherwise need to be replaced, because they are either that good or I see no need to upgrade just to upgrade. Equally as consistent, I also receive a variety of pieces of gear to test for a variety of companies; and on occasion, I also learn about products that I want to purchase, or need to purchase for a number of reasons. At the end of the year, I look back on what I did, what worked for me, what didn’t, and make up a list of things that I’d recommend for a last-minute gift guide. As always, if the product made my list, you can be sure that it was tested in a variety of situations over a period of time. So, without further ado, here’s what I’d recommend for 2016 on a variety of fronts: