Geyser Pools and Yellowstone River - Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming

The diverse landscape at Yellowstone is stunningly beautiful. If you look beyond the pools to the river, you can see a fly fisherman in the middle, as well.

Fun Photo Friday: Best Friend's Animal Shelter - Kanab - Utah

It was one of those, "Really, honey, you want to go there?" But it was really great visiting the Best Friend's Animal Shelter in Kanab Utah while we were on our RV road trip in 2012. It was on the way for us between Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, so it didn't divert us at all. We took a good part of the day to visit the beautiful welcome center you see here, and to tour the entire facility. They really do great stuff. Check them out: http://bestfriends.org/

The California Building and Tower at Balboa Park - San Diego, CA

This is the Museum of Man at Balboa Park.

Twin Lakes and Crystal Crag in B&W - Mammoth - California

Sunrise along the Seward Highway - Alaska

Mom and Dad are taking a trip to Alaska at the end of August '17, so I spent a lot of time over the holiday talking up the beauty of taking the rail along the Seward Highway, between Seward and Anchorage. This was shot just after sunrise in that incredibly beautiful scenic area.

Winter Escape - Lake Tahoe - Nevada / California

So looking forward to this. Just a few more weeks.

Lake Tahoe's South Shore and Mountains (Summer 2004)

This was taken from the Gondola platform stop up at Heavenly. This is the South Shore, which includes the Tahoe Keys, Camp Richardson and Emerald Bay (not visible). Mt Tallac sits in the center of the photo. I'm looking forward to seeing a much more snow-covered version of this in December! This shot was taken in July, 2004.

Hot Creek - Mono County - California

Here's another shot of Hot Creek, near Mammoth, California.

Hot Creek Pools - Mono County - California

These are the hot sprig pools at Hot Creek, up near Mammoth. Yet another great excursion off Interstate 395, you should definitely be sure to check out this gem.

Fun Photo Friday: The Road to Mt Whitney, Lone Pine, California

This was indeed a fun road, and it leads (eventually) to the beautiful Whitney Portal.

Hot Creek - Near Mammoth - Mono County - California

This is Hot Creek, which flows down from Mammoth Creek from the Sierra Nevadas you can see in the background. Very close to here are the hot spring pools (picture for another day). "True Grit" and "North to Alaska" both had scenes filmed here.

Twin Lakes and Crystal Crag - Mammoth Lakes - California

This is yet another photo of Twin Lakes, where we camped for a week recently. The waterfall on the right-hand side of the picture comes from Lake Mamie, above Twin Lakes. And that's Crystal Crag in the background. This was post-processed with Color Efex (part of the Nik software suite).

Fun Photo Friday: Darcy and Bailey at Twin Lakes - Mammoth - California

When the clouds cleared, we took a few more shots of Twin Lakes with the snowy mountain background, and we somehow got Bailey to look at me for a second while I captured this one.

Whitney Portal - Lone Pine - California

Whitney Portal is just up the mountain from Lone Pine, California, off Interstate 395. Coming from the high desert, the short drive brings you to this beautiful area that is the trailhead for hikers taking the trek to the top of Mt Whitney. There's a base camp there, as well as a general store, where you can purchase the permit for the hike.

Autumn in the High Desert - Lone Pine - California

Autumn in the high desert is a beautiful time to explore, hike and to photograph the beautiful landscape. This is in the Alabama Hills of Lone Pine, CA, with Lone Pine Peak in the background towering above Owens Valley.

Fun Photo Friday: Hiking around the Alabama Hills at Lone Pine, California

This is the Alabama Hills, nestled between the great Sierra Nevada range (which includes Mt Whitney), and Owens Valley in Lone Pine, California. A lot of very cool areas to hike around, and view the magnificent landscape, with the beautiful mountains in the background.

Astounding Views - Minaret Vista - Mammoth Lakes - CA

If you find yourself in Mammoth, or along the I-395 near Mammoth, take the exit and head up toward the ski resort. But be sure to take that road to the top until you see the turnoff for "Minaret Vista," and you won't be disappointed. Aside from the Minarets, you get a beautiful view of Mt Ritter, Mt Banner, and Reds Meadow below.

Crystal Crag and Twin Lakes - Mammoth Lakes - California

This week's photos are going to be all about our week-long trailer camping trip in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. This is Twin Lakes, which is the primary campground we stayed at while in Mammoth. The spire towering over the area is Crystal Crag, and was the beautiful "photo bomb" backdrop for numerous of my photos taken in the Mammoth Lakes area.

Golden Sunset - Lake Tahoe - California / Nevada

The mountains and lakes are beckoning us, so I'm posting this golden sunset photo of Lake Tahoe.

Encinitas Sunset - Swamis - Encinitas - California

Sunset from the Meditation Gardens above Swami's in Encinitas.

Fun Photo Friday: A Splendid View of Tahoe

This is from the observation deck along the gondola that takes you from the village in South Lake Tahoe up to Heavenly.

Flathead Lake - Montana

Flathead Lake, Montana. This is a part of the country that I look forward to visiting again, and spending more time than we were able to on our 2012 RV trip.

Hoover Dam - Arizona / Nevada

The enormous and amazing Hoover Dam was originally built from 1931 to 1933. What an amazing feat for Americans to have done this back then.

Sunrise on the Turnagain Sound - Alaska Railroad

Another sunrise pic from our trip to Alaska in 2009, this is along the Turnagain Arm as we made our way by railroad from Anchorage to Seward.

Fun Photo Friday: Seward, Alaska (2009)

Seven years ago this week, Darcy and I went to Alaska (I've photo-blogged many times about that awesome trip). After various days traveling by train and a couple-day visit to Denali, we wound up in Seward, where we boarded a cruise ship and headed to Vancouver. It was such a great trip. I was reminiscing about it with my folks the other night, who are planning a similar trip in summer 2017. We may just have to join them!

Irish Celtic High Cross - County Kerry - Ireland

This one is from our 2014 trip to Ireland, while touring the Ring of Kerry. This is an example of a High Cross that is made of stone and was carved with ornate celtic sybmols.

California I-395 Excursions: Mono Lake

People who have never been often ask me the best way to drive to Tahoe, and I tell them that we always take I-395, because there are so many things to see along the highway, or even to explore a bit by driving a short distance off the highway to explore. One of those places worth stopping for a short walk around, and/or for a picnic lunch, is Mono Lake. Mono Lake is north of Mammoth, just past the Tioga Pass turnoff into Yosemite, at Lee Vining. It's a very cool, other-worldly place, that you should visit.

Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse - Trinidad - Humboldt County - California

The seaside town of Trinidad is located about 15 miles north of Arcata, in Humboldt County, CA. It is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner if you are working your way through the Redwoods along the coast. This is the Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse, which is surrounded in a beautiful setting of well-manicured flowers, bushes and trees.

Kilkenny Castle - County Kilkenny - Ireland

The fine town of Kilkenny, Ireland, is definitely worth a visit. If you make it there, be sure to take a tour of the incredible Kilkenny Castle, which was originally built 1195, and has amazing grounds, with a giant grass lawn and lots of trees.

The Road To Mt. Shasta - California

Here's one from my point-and-shoot while on our big RV trip back in 2012. We were traveling from Hat Creek to Mt. Shasta by way of the CA-89 North Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. This awesome drive not included the beautiful view above, but also a stop at McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. If you haven't traveled this part of California, you are missing out on some treasures!

Montezuma Castle - Camp Verde - Arizona

Here's a very old photo that I took at Montezuma Castle when Darcy, DJ and I visited on our way to Sedona.

Fannette Island - Emerald Bay - Lake Tahoe

One of the many beautiful places to spend a summer day at Lake Tahoe is Emerald Bay, where you can relax, hike, swim, kayak/canoe, picnic, and enjoy a number of other recreations. It is also home to the only island in the lake, Fannette Island. A fun place to hike around, there's an old stone ruin that has been dubbed the "Tea House," which offers a nice surrounding views, including the inlet to the bay.

Fun Photo Friday: More of this... (Lake Tahoe 2016)

Here's my fun photo Friday. I need more of this.

Venus Pool - Maui - Hawaii

In 2010, we went to Maui with the Fienes, who took us on an adventurous drive (like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland) to southeast Maui. We took a short hike to this famous spot, Venus Pool, where we dove off cliffs, swam and sunbathed for a good amount of the afternoon.

Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris - France

This one is from my trip to Paris in 2002, with my Minolta d'Image 5 digital camera. Notre Dame Cathedral is a fantastic piece of architecture. The gargoyles that you see extending out were originally designed for water runoff and spouts.

Fun Photo Friday: The Motel Garden

Here's a shot I took last week while walking around the village in Tahoe. It's just a very cool, colorful garden that is part of a motel in South Lake Tahoe, near the gondola.

Sunset at Pismo Beach, CA

This is the very fun Pismo Beach, CA, where the beach is vast and the sunsets are typical California (beautiful)!

Hubbard Glacier: The largest tidewater glacier in North America

Hubbard Glacier, in Alaska, is a "Tidewater Glacier" because it flows into the ocean. It is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, at 7 miles wide and 76 miles long, and it is incredible. We were fortunate to witness it's beauty from the cruise ship on our 2009 trip throughout Alaska. If you haven't visited Alaska, you need to add it to your travel bucket list.

Fun Photo Friday: More of this, please

Here's my Fun Photo Friday pic of Bailey and Darcy down at Kiva Beach at Lake Tahoe.

I-395 Excursions: Convict Lake - California

Just two miles off the I-395, Convict Lake is a beautiful place to visit or stay. It's located between Toms Place and Mammoth. Aside from it's beautiful surroundings, the lake is also known for its fishing, and for a very good restaurant at the nearby Convict Lake Resort. Star Trek fans (TNG) may also recognize this lake from one of the movies...do you know which one?

Fun Photo Friday: Looking forward to a little of this, this weekend

Heading up to Tahoe for the long weekend, and I'm really looking forward to some rest and relaxation with Darcy and Bailey, and hopefully we'll see DJ as well. Yes, I'm also looking forward to this as well.

The California Tower and Museum of Man - Balboa Park - San Diego - California

Here's a shot of the iconic Balboa Park California Tower, which, along with the dome, is an attraction at the Museum of Man. If you are visiting San Diego this summer, do yourself a favor and make it over to the beautiful Balboa Park, you will not be disappointed. Did you know that you can now buy tickets to go to the top of the Tower?

The Gallery of Maps - Vatican Museum - Vatican City - Italy (1998)

This one is from our trip to Italy in 1998 (thank you, Roberta Waterman!). We primarily stayed in Rome, so we had a lot of sightseeing there, including a day at Vatican City. This is the Gallery of Maps (aka "The Map Room") in the Vatican Museum, as shot from a very early digital camera.

Fun Photo Friday: Me and Bailey at Zion National Park, Utah (2012)

From our 2012 RV trip across the Western United States, this is one of just a few shots where I'm in the picture (since I'm the one always taking them). This is at Zion National Park, just before you arrive at the tunnel from the East Entrance. We got out to do a little hike, and enjoy the beautiful scenery there. Bailey is the best sitter, isn't she?

Del Mar view from Carmel Valley - California

Here's another one from one of my early morning walks with Bailey around the neighborhood, taken at Overlook Park.

Land's End - Cabo San Lucas - Baja California - Mexico (1999)

In 1999, DJ, Darcy and I went on a cruise down to Mexico with our good friends, the Fienes and the Hartmans. We had a fantastic time with our friends, and also got to enjoy the amazing scenery. This is Land's End at Cabo San Lucas. We got to depart from the ship for about a half day in Cabo, where we made our way to the infamous "The Office" bar, which is right on the beach. We've since been to Cabo one other time, for the wedding of friends of ours. We'll make it back there again, as it is a great destination spot for vacationing.

Fun Photo Friday: A little moment of Zen

Mount Thielsen - Near Crater Lake - Oregon

Mount Thielsen is just north of Crater Lake, in Oregon, near Diamond Lake. This was taken as we were driving the on beautiful Highway 138. Mount Thielsen is an "extinct" volcano, and is a popular place to hike.

Alaska by Rail: Scenes from Anchorage to Seward (2009)

This is one of the many incredible scenes of Alaska. This was shot just at sunrise, taken from the train we rode from Anchorage to Seward.

Fun Photo Friday: A Big Game of Chess at Director Park - Portland - Oregon

Here's a shot from a couple years ago that I took at Director Park in Portland, OR. Great town, Portlandia, and I look forward to getting back up there sometime soon.