Yes, it is a wonder of the natural world. And yes, it's bluer than the Aegean. But it's in the middle of nowhere. Journey to Crater Lake, and you pass no other world-class natural places. Southern Utah is certainly no metropolis, but Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon North Rim, Escalante, Capitol Reef, Arches, & Canyonlands are each less than a day's drive to each other. And each are as sublime as Crater Lake. Continue reading »

We liked the Mt St Helens area quite a bit. It was a pleasing combination of active volcano and plenty of things to do. The easiest access to Mt St Helens is to the west. And since we stayed on the east and south sides we rarely saw other people either driving or hiking.

We both began and ended our trip in this area. That's just a trip-planning quirk I have -- I like to have the feeling of returning to familiar territory when travelling.

Lodging Continue reading »