Travel & Photo Blog

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The first of my three trips to the Grand Canyon, I spent most of my time on the North Rim. Exponentially less crowded than the South Rim, I was able to enjoy my hiking and exploring in relative seclusion. When you’re here for the first time, and you reach the canyon rim for the first time to see the vista in person, you are left speechless. (That’s all I have to say).

As you may experience yourself, the Grand Canyon is difficult to photograph well from the rim. The vast panoramas, subtle hues, and depth of field are frequently lost in a two-dimensional photograph. 

The Grand Canyon is not about the photograph. It is about embracing the opportunity to witness a canyon that is 18 miles wide and over one mile deep. It stretches 277 miles and exposes nearly two billion years of Earth’s geological history. 

Theodore Roosevelt revered this park and in 1906, Roosevelt designated 23 sites that would become part of the National Park Service’s purview when it was created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. At the time, Roosevelt implored, “Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.”

When I return for my fourth visit, I plan to visit the canyon floor and explore the river, but I will insist on and will enjoy the trip out of the canyon on a mule.

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Living in Seattle, Alaska was basically in my backyard (2:30 flight) and I regret not spending more time there before I moved back to Omaha in 2012. Juneau is accessible only by boat or plane, and my 2-day trip included two water excursions. First was a whale watching cruise and the second day was a trip to see the glacier in the fjord called Tracy Arm.

Whale day launched at 11:00 for a 4-hour expedition to find and follow whales during their feeding season. Among the 60 people on the boat, I was the only one who spent 90% of my time on the upper deck, where my views and photographs would not be obstructed by water-stained glass. Despite my seven layers of clothing, I had to return to the cabin every 30 minutes or so to thaw my fingers, but I was “on deck” for nearly the entire journey. We saw Humpbacks with their calves, Orca with their calves, and bald eagles in abundance. We also witnessed, from the surface, a pod of Humpbacks feeding on krill, swimming up through the center of the bubble cage with their jaws open to capture great gulps of schooling fish.

Glacier day launched at 9:00 for a 5-hour trip where we saw multiple icebergs, whales, and eventually we got up close to the Sawyer Glacier. At sea level (duh), you see the tip of the glacier and get perspective as it “climbs” up the fjord into the mountains many miles distant. You marvel at the immensity of the ancient ice that seems to reach 10 stories only a few hundred yards from the sea. It is awe inspiring and humbling to be in such an immense and harsh environment. One wonders how the natives and the early explorers even survived. One also makes a pact to return and soak up more of the majesty and grandeur of this remote wilderness.

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An incredibly unique chunk of land famous for it’s “hoodoos”, Bryce Canyon is mesmerizing, mysterious, and beautiful. It is difficult to photograph from above because a two-dimensional photo does not portray the subtle details of light and space accurately (much like the Grand Canyon). One needs to hike down among the Hoodoos to get a sense of their grandeur and beauty. 

“Up next” (hopefully) on my list of travels, a return to Bryce will offer great sights when the snow accentuates the rich red and orange hues of the sandstone formations. It is easy to bundle this park into a trip that includes Zion and the Grand Canyon. Next time, I’ll allocate more time to Bryce and spend more time hiking the canyons.

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Belize was a great adventure in every sense. Traveling alone to Central America added a layer of apprehension so I was sure to check in with the US Embassy for peace of mind.. I flew from Houston to Belize City, then to San Pedro; similar to Cabo in that it is on the tip of an isthmus off the mainland. The 30 minute flight to San Pedro revealed hundreds of beautiful small, uninhabited islands in the shallow sea, one looked like a flying bird to me (pictured below).

Altun Ha (below) is the name of an ancient Mayan city that was occupied from 900 B.C to 1000 A.D. Walking among these ancient ruins brought a sense of awe, amazement, and respect for the ingenuity and vision of the Mayan culture. 

My days were full of two unique diving experiences, exploring the ruins, chilling on the beautiful beaches, and getting my general bearings. I found the locals very hospitable and I met many Americans who live there about 6 months of the year. Belize is definitely on my short list of return destinations.

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