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Abby ShepardExplorer

Photographer + Blogger + Ice Cream Enthusiast in Boulder, Colorado

I kayaked the Weeki Wachee River in February and it was amazing. The water is crystal clear and the scenery is beautiful. We even saw a few manatees! I rented a kayak from Weeki Wachee State Park, which works really well. They pick you up at the take out point and shuttle you back to the park. Highly recommend!

This is a beautiful waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There is a designated parking lot for the falls, and you can park there and then take a short hike on the boardwalk to see the falls. I continued on the gorge trail for a short, easy loop. The boardwalk was slick in the winter and the lower overlook for the falls was closed due to ice.

This trail is a great way to see a beautiful waterfall. Start at the park's visitor center, which is really nice and worth a stop. Then you'll hike 1.5 miles one way through the forest to the falls. I gave the trail 4 starts because I did this trail after a rain storm, and the trail was extremely muddy.

Explorer

01/03/21

This is a really neat trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The rock formations are cool and you can walk around the giant slabs of rock and the "ledge" type formations. I did this hike in the winter and it was beautiful!

I am from Dayton, and I love doing this trail whenever I'm back in town. I prefer to start at the Indian Mound, and then take the gorge trail all the way to Cedar Cliff Falls. It's a beautiful, well-marked trail that is definitely worth a visit!

Explorer

12/29/20

Clifton Gorge offers beautiful views of the water and a great hiking trail. I am from Dayton, and I love doing this hike every time I come back to the area to visit.

Indian Mound Reserve is a fantastic park! I parked near the Mound itself and hiked to Cedar Cliff Falls. It was a great hike through a gorge that ended at the falls.

The hike to Sterling Pond is a relatively short trail, with beautiful views at the end. Definitely worth the hike!

Cucumber Falls is a must-see in Ohiopyle State Park. You can park in the parking lot close to the falls, or hike the great Gorge Trail to access the falls.

I did this hike in the fall, and the views of fall foliage were spectacular! The hike is challenging, but not too much so. It's a nice day hike with varied terrain and fantastic views.

This trail is insanely beautiful. The initial ascent was rough but not as bad as I thought it would be. The trail took us about 8 hours, but so worth it.

This trail give you great views of the mountains, and the terrain changes as you approach the mountains.

If you visit in the winter, the main gorge trail will be closed. However, the rim trail will still give you some great views into the gorge!

Taughannock Falls is a gorgeous waterfall, and a must-see in the Finger Lake region. This trail is also one of the few gorge trails that is open in the winter, and the waterfall is also stunning in the winter.

Akumal Bay is a wonderful place for snorkeling, and you will likely see a sea turtle. Bring your own snorkel equipment, or you can rent it on the beach. As the adventure says, there will likely be many companies and guides trying to sell you a tour, and telling you that you can only see turtles with a tour. Just tell them that you are going to the beach, and keep walking. There are regulations, and you can only go certain places without a guide. However, we were able to see a turtle and lots of fish in reefs in the area that you are allowed to go without a guide.

The gardens are full of huge oak trees, cypress swamps, and trails that meander through dense foliage. There are separate fees for anything but the main gardens, but there is still lots to see with just the general admission.

If you are debating whether to watch the sunrise from the summit, do it! The views are one of a kind and absolutely breathtaking.

Great hike with an amazing view for sunrise. Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes, as the elevation is steep and the path can get muddy.

The hike is short, but the falls are beautiful! I recommend going in the off season to avoid crowds.

Hocking Hills is an amazing state park and this is my favorite trail! Old Man's Cave is breathtaking, and a must see spot. The trail can get crowded during peak season though, so plan accordingly.

I debated visiting Bushkill Falls at all because I had heard that it was very touristy. Accept the fact that it's touristy and go; it's worth a visit. The waterfalls are gorgeous, and the trails are very well maintained. I took the red trail, and once I got away from the entrance to the park it wasn't crowded at all.

This hike is a relatively short climb with beautiful views. Be prepared for steep elevation and a few rock scrambles. The trail is popular, and the parking lot fills up quickly, so I would recommend going earlier in the day or later in the evening. If you're looking to catch a sunset without having to climb back down in the dark, I recommend hiking to the first lookout point for sunset, which is only about a 20 minute hike from the parking lot.

This park is incredible. We took the H trail all through the park, and loved it!

It's a beautiful, well-maintained trail which will take you straight to the beach!