Posts in Travel
Chasing Fall Colors: Camping & Hiking at Grout Lake, Vermont
Chasing Fall Colors: Camping & Hiking at Grout Lake, Vermont

Ever since Ryan and I took our first camping trip together back in the spring of 2021, I’d been itching for another. So when Fall Break afforded us an extra long weekend, we took the opportunity to seek out some fall foliage in one of the premier scenic spots in the U.S: Vermont. When I was applying to college, I toured one up in Vermont, and I had fond memories of the stunning vibrant leaves and rustic charm of the state. We settled on Grout Pond in southern Vermont, near Stratton, nestled in Green Mountain National Forest, as our destination.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzhike, hiking, camping, fall foliage, autumn, grout lake, vermont, vt, green mountain national forest, strattonComment
Paleontologist Dreams at Dinosaur National Monument, Utah & Colorado
Paleontologist Dreams at Dinosaur National Monument, Utah & Colorado

Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved dinosaurs. For a long time, it was my dream to be Dr. Alan Grant from Jurassic Park. I was obsessed with t.v. shows like Prehistoric Park and Primeval. And though I’ve given up on my dream of being a paleontologist, I will still search out all things dinosaur. Colorado happens to be an amazing place for dinosaur-hunting, with Dinosaur Ridge in Denver being one of the coolest. So when I saw on the map that we could go right by Dinosaur National Monument on our return trip to Denver from Salt Lake City, I immediately implored my friend and husband to take the opportunity.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzdinosaur national monument, national park, utah, colorado, jensen, quarry visitor center, exhibit hall, fossils, bones, swelter shelter petroglyphs, fremont, plug hat butte Comment
Lakes, Lakes, & More Lakes: Lofty Lake Loop (Kamas, UT)
Lakes, Lakes, & More Lakes: Lofty Lake Loop (Kamas, UT)

During my trip out to Colorado last August, we decided to take a roadtrip to Salt Lake City, UT, for a couple days. I’d never been to Salt Lake before, and I was really excited to check out the city and get some cool hiking in. Enter: crazy wildfire season. Enter: pressure system over SLC. Literally the weekend we went to SLC, smoke from the California wildfires moved into the city due to high winds and something about the weather system that was in the area trapped the smoke in the city. In the city, you weren’t supposed to be outside for long periods, and the day we drove in, everything was coated in a orange haze, like some kind of Mad Max apocalyptic color-grading.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzlofty lake loop, trail, hike, hiking, kamas, utah, salt lake city, lofty lake, alpine lake, wildfire, pass lake, kamas lake, scout lakeComment
Mountains, Wildflowers, & Waterfalls: Diamond Lake (Nederland, Colorado)
Mountains, Wildflowers, & Waterfalls: Diamond Lake (Nederland, Colorado)

In early August of 2021, I had the opportunity to visit Colorado during the warmer months for the first time. One of my best friends lived in Denver at the time, and Ryan and I squeezed in a short visit before my fall semester began. Last time I was here was January, so everything was covered in snow, but on this trip, we were blessed with perfect warm weather and sunshine for our alpine lake hike.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzcolorado, nederland, denver, hike, hiking, mountain, waterfall, wildflowers, diamond lake, trail, alpine lakeComment
Kauai, Hawai'i (Day Nine): Sleeping Giant, Lydgate Chocolate Farm, & Hanapepe
Kauai, Hawai'i (Day Nine): Sleeping Giant, Lydgate Chocolate Farm, & Hanapepe

This was our last full day of the trip and looking back, I’m shocked by how much we were able to pack in before our flight left that evening! The day began with a sunrise hike (or what was supposed to be a sunrise hike) to the Sleeping Giant. We were exhausted by day nine of nonstop hiking and traveling, so we may have slept in a little longer than planned, and we were dealing with vet calls to home before we could leave. Nevertheless, early in the morning, we set off on the Nounou East Trail, a 3.4-mile trail near our hotel.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzhawaii, kauai, sleeping giant, lydgate farms, chocolate farm tour, hike, hiking, nounou east trail, hanapepe, lilo and stitch, swinging bridge, mural, cacao, dark chocolate, white chocolateComment
Kauai, Hawai'i (Day Seven): Waimea Canyon State Park
Kauai, Hawai'i (Day Seven): Waimea Canyon State Park

This canyon is one of the most striking views on Kauai. It’s known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and it was formed after the central volcano there collapsed 10 million years ago. The Waimea river then carved its way through the lava and basalt formations, leaving a deep, colorful gorge.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzkauai, hawaii, hike, hiking, Waimea canyon, state park, lookout point, berry flat trail, canyon trail, lava lava beach clubComment
Big Island, Hawai'i (Day Five): Lava Tree State Monument & Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo
Big Island, Hawai'i (Day Five): Lava Tree State Monument & Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo

This was our final day on the Big Island, which was a bittersweet moment. We absolutely loved our time here, and of course, there was so much we didn’t have the opportunity to do. However, we packed up our things and decided to do a few extra excursions before our late afternoon flight to make the most of our remaining hours on the Big Island.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzbig island, hawaii, lava tree, state monument, pana'ewa rainforest zoo, itinerary, five days, hike, hikingComment
Big Island, Hawai'i (Day Four): Waipi’o Valley & Akaka Falls
Big Island, Hawai'i (Day Four): Waipi’o Valley & Akaka Falls

Our fourth day began at Waipi’o Valley, or the Valley of the Kings. Aptly named, the valley was the home for Hawaiian alibi (royalty) and the boyhood home of Kamehameha I (one of the central figures in Hawaiian history); in 1780, this valley was where King Kamehameha gained the support of the war god and set out to unite the Hawaiian islands under his rule. The valley was once heavily populated; however, the 1946 tsunami destroyed most of the community. Now, there are still a small number of people living in the valley, and it’s important to remember that you are entering their community when visiting this trail.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzbig island, hawaii, waipio valley, waipi'o, akaka falls, hiking, steepest roadComment
Big Island, Hawai’i (Day Two): Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden & Snorkeling in Hilo
Big Island, Hawai’i (Day Two): Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden & Snorkeling in Hilo

Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden is tucked away at the end of a scenic drive outside Hilo. The botanical garden was created somewhat accidentally when a couple vacationing in Hawai’i decided to retire and move to the Big Island. Dan Lutkenhouse Sr. and his wife Pauline purchased 17 acres in the late 70s and fell in love with the natural beauty of Onomea Valley. To preserve this land, they established the garden, carving the trails out of jungle overgrown with invasive species and undergrowth. The Lutkenhouses collected and planted over 2,500 tropical and subtropical plants, both native to Hawai’i and species from around the globe, including some brought back from their own personal trips. The garden is now run by their children, who wish to use the space to create a larger hub for sustainability education and climate change.

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TravelHannah Schultzhawaii, big island, hilo, Hawaii tropical bioreserve & garden, botanical garden, Onomea Valley, Carlsmith beach park, snorkel, green sea turtle, richardson ocean park, green sand beach, black sand beachComment
Big Island, Hawai'i (Day Three): Volcanoes National Park
Big Island, Hawai'i (Day Three): Volcanoes National Park

On our third day on the Big Island, we decided to do what we do best and visit a national park. Volcanoes National Park includes some of the most unique topography we’ve ever hiked, as well as two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea had been erupting from December to May of 2021, but there was no active lava flowing in the park when we visited in July.

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Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzhawaii, volcano, hawaii volcanoes national park, Hiking, lava tube, crater rim drive, the rim, restaurant, Kilauea ikiComment