Falls of Falloch is a wonderful, easy stop along A82 between Glasgow and Fort William. A short and easy walk through a very pretty woods brings you to beautiful Falls of Falloch, a clean 30-foot plunge into a deep pool flanked by picturesque cliffs....
Stirling Castle is a huge complex of royal buildings, workshops, and fortifications atop a huge volcanic rock that rises dramatically from the lowland plains near the River Forth. It’s strategic position made Stirling Castle an important stronghold and center of power throughout Scotland’s turbulent Medeival and Renaissance history....
Rosslyn Chapel was founded in 1446 and stands proudly today as one of the most beautiful historic chapels in Scotland. The beauty of this chapel led to it being used as the setting for the finale of the film of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel The DaVinci Code....
The Isle of Mull and the Middle Hebrides Islands are worth spending some time exploring. Iona in particular stands out due to its historical significance and its beautifully fresh air and pleasant scenery. On Mull, Tobermory is quite picturesque...
Oban has everything you could ask for - all of the needed amenities and services, fantastic food and great little shops, plus easy access to beaches, hiking, and historical locations. Oban is a wonderful destination and a great place to spend a day on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland!...
Tucked away in a less-treveled corner of Scotland’s West Coast, pastoral Kilmartin Glen has been home to local inhabitants for around five millenium. Over 350 Neolithic and Bronze-age monuments, cairns, and rock art sties dot the fields in this picturesque glen, along with an important Dark Age hilltop fort, a historic church, and a Medieval ... Read more...
A portion of this grand fairytale castle is tourable, as are the extensive gardens around the castle. Built in the mid-1700’s and expanded in 1877, this Baroque castle is a popular showstopper and a centerpiece in the Argyll region which was used as a film location for Downton Abbey....
Stunning scenery meets a famously tragic history in gorgeous Glen Coe, in the West Highlands of Scotland. The drive through this glacially carved valley is absolutely breathtaking, with myriad viewpoints en route. ...
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a top-notch experience on par with the world’s major museums like The Louvre and Rijksmuseum, but with more natural history along with art. The fact that it is free to enjoy is absolutely incredible. ...
Gray Mare’s Tail Waterfall is a fairly tall waterfall that really rages after a decent rain. Located right behind the little twin villages of Kinlochleven and Kinlochmore near Glencoe, it’s a quick and easy hike down a well-kept trail to visit the 5th tallest cascade in the UK....
Glen Rosa is an extremely scenic glacially-carved valley on Isle of Arran. This gorgeous and easy hike turned out to be more about the journey than the destination; a journey I very much desire to embark upon again!...
Located centrally in downtown Glasgow, the gallery features works in a variety of media and includes a really cool art studio space on its top floor plus a museum shop with wares inspired by pieces in the museum’s collection....
Likely the oldest surviving structure in Glasgow, construction of the city’s mighty Cathedral began in the 1100s. The style is ornate and distinctly Gothic, with similarities to other large cathedrals of the day like Notre Dame and The Se in Lisbon...
Scotland is stuffed with castles, with a higher density of them than anywhere else in Europe. Our first visit to Scotland revealed the huge variety in structures, functions, and states of preservation or decay amongst the castles in this gorgeous country....
Out of the many castles we visited in our two-week trip to Scotland, Duone Castle (pronounced “doon”) was one of my favorites and one I highly recommend. ...
The Devil’s Pulpit is a beautiful and unique gorge in picturesque Finnich Glen less than an hour north of Glasgow whose popularity is growing quickly thanks to the location being used as a filming location for several Hollywood movies and big-name TV productions like Outlander. ...
Arran is often described as “Scotland in miniature” featuring highlands and glens in the north and gentler rolling terrain in the south. With so much beauty and variety within a day trip’s reach of Scotland’s most populous city it’s no wonder that Arran is a popular place to visit....
Brodick Castle is well worth a visit. We spent two hours here but we could have easily spent the entire day. In two hours we saw the castle and garden but barely any of the trails....
Of all the hikes I did in Scotland, this was my absolute favorite! Glen Nevis is way beyond scenic - words like idyllic, inspirational, and iconic are more appropriate....
Dunstaffnage Castle is in a state of partial ruin. The castle gatehouse does have a roof and wood floors on the three explorable levels, accessed by the original stone spiral staircase which eventually leads up to the castle wall walk. What a view! The kitchen section of the castle is in a much more advanced state of ruin....
Castle Stalker, set on an islet in Loch Linnhe at the mouth of little Loch Laich near the village of Appin, is one of the more iconic Medieval castles in Scotland. Monty Python fans will surely recognize it as “Castle Aargh!”, the setting for the final scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail....
The Fairy Bridge was an exciting adventure to find and a magical place to discover. Finding a place like this, lost in time and forgotten, makes you wonder how many more little hidden treasures lie out there in the Scottish forests waiting to be found....
Edinburgh Castle is perhaps Scotland’s most iconic landmark as well as its most visited single attraction with around 2.25 million visitors annually. Contained within the imposing stone walls are the country’s most treasured possessions, kept in the place where so much of Scottish history actually happened. ...
Rowena Crest Viewpoint is the star of the eastern Columbia Gorge, rivaling the epic views found at it’s western counterpart Crown Point, but far exceeding it in the wildflower department and in hiking opportunities as well. And everyone knows it....
Upper Rock Creek Falls occurs where a 40-foot tall rock wall runs diagonally across the canyon. The resulting waterfall is a staggering 150-foot wide block, with cataracts dropping over the ledge in clusters. ...
One of many Falls Creeks in the Pacific Northwest, this stunner in the incredible Gifford Pinchot National Forest is one that lives up to it’s name, with a series of three falls in a row totaling 335 feet, plus another 200 feet of steep cascades below the main drops. ...
The star of the show here is Sherrard Point, located on a rocky outcropping to the NE of the main summit which is actually the old 4,055-foot volcanic summit. From this incredible vantage point you’ve got views of five Cascade peaks!...
Here's my top ten viewpoints of Mt Hood where visitors have space to hang out with family and friends as they take in the view and take their snaps. All are fairly easily to reach, some are even handicapped accessible....
Cape Meares is really quite fantastic, with outstanding views, a historic lighthouse, and some very special spruces. Volunteers lead whale watching in December and again during Spring Break as gray whales migrate past....
Tamanawas Falls is grand, both tall and wide with a big undercut behind it. It creates clouds of mist which blow along the amphitheater walls, carpeting all in it’s path with verdant mosses and wildflowers. When flows are high it’s one massive sheet, but at lower flows the falls breaks apart into a few different cataracts, like a smile with a missing tooth. ...
The biggest draw in Puerto Vallarta are it’s glorious beaches and tropical climate. They stretch for miles around the bay and continue northward in the Riviera Nayarit. The ocean temperature is cool and pleasant during the sunny Dec - April season, which is also the busy season. ...
Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest accessible waterfall and perhaps the state’s most iconic landmark. It’s close proximity to Portland and it’s ease of access make it Oregon’s most visited location as well, with over 2 million visitors per year. And simply put, it is truly beautiful....
Dramatic Heceta Head Lighthouse is perfectly set and utterly photogenic, as is the historic lightkeeper’s assistant’s home. And how cool that visitors can stay there! Add on a lovely little beach and one of the most amazing hikes in the state and you’ve got a recipe for a fantastic day at the Oregon Coast!...
The coastline in the park is one of the prettiest you will find anywhere on earth. Ecola State Park is definitely one of my top ten favorite Oregon State Parks and includes possibly the best beach in the entire state. ...
Fort Stevens State Parks occupies the extreme northwest corner of Oregon, where the mighty Columbia River finally empties in the Pacific Ocean. This sprawling 4,300-acre park includes miles of beaches, gorgeous coastal forests, a huge river bay, and two lakes. But unlike most Oregon State Parks, the history of humans at this location is the star of the show....
Intentional and harmonious are the two words that best describe Lan Su Chinese Garden. Visitors see and experience exactly what they are supposed to in each space. Every stone, branch, leaf, and blossom are there because they were intended to be there. The attention to detail in this garden is of the highest caliber....
Mosier Plateau Trail provides a hike through an environment unlike most in Northern Oregon. Located in an area of transition between the wet forests found west of Hood River and the desert found east of the The Dalles, visitors will discover a beautiful oak parkland and grassland ecosystem offering two great viewpoints plus a brush with local history....
For me Moulton Falls Regional Park is a top-notch spot. With a huge diversity of offerings and several points of interest, Moulton Falls offers something for everyone. On a summer day it would be easy to bring a lunch and spend the entire day here. In autumn the colors are superb. In spring the waterfalls are gushing and the forest floor is alive with flowers....
The falls in this area are both stunning and varied, with a greater density of waterfalls than the famous Trail of Ten Falls in Silver Falls State Park. The fire damaged areas also give hikers a chance to see the impacts of variations in fire intensity on the landscape as well as to witness the recovery of the Columbia Gorge....
In my humble (or not so humble) opinion, Guy W. Talbot State Park is a true standout in the Columbia River Gorge area. This beautiful state park features two gorgeous waterfalls set in a lush forest, with stunning Latourell Falls as it’s awe-inspring centerpiece. If you are visiting the Columbia River Gorge, Talbot State Park is an absolute must....
Tamolitch Blue Pool is one of Oregon’s most popular destinations. It’s hard to miss it on Instagram or in travel blogs. Why? Because Tamolitch Blue Pool is insanely beautiful! It’s waters are a sparkling sapphire blue with perfect clarity. The view from above is one of the best you’ll find anywhere...
Silver Falls State Park is widely considered to be the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks. This gigantic, sprawling park offers world-class hiking, biking, camping, and more in a beautiful and diverse area of forest in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Salem. The highlight of the park is the incredible Trail of Ten Falls, which leads past waterfall after waterfall....
Angel’s Rest is rocky promontory overlooking the Columbia Gorge near Portland, OR. The Ange’s Rest hike is an Oregon classic, featuring a variety of ecosystems and some stunning views at the end of the trail. However, Angel’s Rest hike is fairly long with a big elevation gain, making it not suitable for everyone. ...
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the greatest parts of Oregon. Comprised of three separate units, each with it’s own flavor, visitors have the opportunity to witness the past captured in stone. The beautiful, semi-arid environment is not exactly a desert, but it’s also a far cry from the wet forests and valleys found west of the Cascades. ...
Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor encompasses 12 miles of the beautiful Southern Oregon Coast along Hwy 101. Many consider this to be the single most beautiful and picturesque area of coastline in the continental United States. With over a dozen developed sites, miles of beaches, hidden coves, stunning rock formations, virgin forests, and breathtaking vistas, Boardman is well worth a full day (or more) of exploration. ...
Harris Beach State Park is one of the top five best beaches in Oregon. I returned in summer 2023 after having not visited for a decade, and I was quickly reminded why I love this beach so much! It’s amazing to me how many...
Green Peak Falls is by far the more impressive of the pair of waterfalls found in the Alsea River headwaters. It splashes and slides down a 50-foot chute with a lower 5-foot ledge falls which fills a big pool below. The falls are gentle and approachable in summer and fall, when you can climb up on the lower ledge and explore around the pool. At high winter and spring flows the falls gush down with force...
Later in the fall, Alsea Falls becomes a great spot for fishing and for watching the salmon and steelhead try to jump the falls. In winter the falls rage and roar. In late spring the area is filled with rhododendron blooms. And I must agree that the forest in this whole area was extremely pretty....
