Outdoor adventures in the US:
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| A bucket list scene - Tunnel View at Yosemite National Park - what an awesome and majestic place |
I'm from the UK, and whilst I love the natural landscapes the the UK has to offer - such as the Lake District and the remote wilds of Scotland, I've always has a fascination with the diversity of landscapes around the world and the grandeur that other countries have, and the US must be right up there. I was lucky to spend a few weeks one winter travelling around the west coast of the US in California and also a bit of time in Arizona. It was a whistle stop Road Trip - only getting a chance to spend a day at a time in various places - but I just had to make the effort to visit some areas of natural outstanding beauty that had been on my bucket list for some time.
Yosemite National Park, California
I happened to spend a few days in San Francisco, and was aware that Yosemite National Park was fairly near-by and a few hours drive away - so I just had to make the effort to plan to visit this awesome place, but what had to be only a day trip here. (For any tourists reading this there are organised coach trips to Yosemite from San Fran or you could rent a car and do it yourself).
Years ago I had seen some stunning images online of what I later found out to be Yosemite National Park, and specifically 'Tunnel View'. So to get chance to stand here in person was a dream come true and one of the best views I have ever seen!
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| 'Tunnel View' behind me - and the realisation of a bucket list moment! What an awesome view! |
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| A more composed picture - Tunnel View at Yosemite National Park - what a majestic place |
After spending some time at Tunnel View, I then had chance to complete some short, gentle walks around the lower area to visit Yosemite Falls, which is another amazing sight.
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| Yosemite Falls |
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| A clearly marked path to the upper falls - but unfortunately my time hear was short so I just remained at ground level. |
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| Another beautiful scene at Lower Yosemite Falls. |
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| With snow on the ground and the skies clear and the air fresh, it made for a stunning short walk around Yosemite Valley close to the visitor centre. |
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| As the sunlight faded - the air cooled and mist began to form in the Valley - producing incredible scenes. |
Unfortunately I only had 1 day in Yosemite to spend as a tourist and I had to leave as the sun set - but I would have loved to have spent lots of time in this area, as there is so much to explore, not just in Yosemite - but the wider Sierra Nevada. Since returning home, I dream of returning to Yosemite and as a consequence of watching the film,
Mile, Mile and a Half, I have now added the John Muir Trail to my bucket list to take the time and discover the more remote parts of the Sierra Nevada.
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| The John Muir trail in the Sierra Nevada - from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney. After seeing this on the film Mile, Mile & a Half - it's now on the bucket list! |
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Most people are aware of the Grand Canyon, and some are lucky enough to have visited. On my US road-trip I got chance to visit the area of it around Navajo Point in Winter. Photos of the place never get across the sheer scale of the place - it truly is breathtaking and monumental in scale. If you get chance to visit the place - grasp it with both hands! What a place!
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| The Grand Canyon from Navajo Point in winter. |
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| Another view of the Grand Canyon from Navajo Point in winter. |
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| Just to prove I was there :) I didnt really have the most appropriate footwear on - so it was a case of edging bit by bit to the edge! |
Sedona, Arizona
I was introduced to the beauty of Sedona by my American friend. Being from the UK it was not a place I was overly familiar with, as it doesn't have the popularity of other places in the US - but I'm glad my friend insisted I visit the area as the landscapes here are something special.
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| Sedona - what a stunning place! |
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| Cathedral Rock at Sedona |
So there you go - a rather brief overview of some stunning places and landscapes in the US. I only scratched the surface of the places I visited on my quick road-trips, and I'd love to spend more time in each of these areas in future. I hope the pics inspire you to want to visit them too!
