Thorny and B place a high value on versatile travel clothing. Unless our adventure requires lots of bulky gear, we can pack for up to three-week trips with carry-on luggage only. In this article we test two different styles of Kuhl pants. Thorny’s review of Kuhl Silencr pants In full disclosure, I have a man crush on Kuhl brand clothing. Kuhl makes its clothing distinctive without sacrificing high performance or versatility. Kuhl shirts, sweaters, coats and hats are the mainstay of my wardrobe, and are my go-to items when packing for our travel adventures. This is a distinction I don’t give ..read more

One of Utah’s “big five” national parks I’ve vacationed in Utah 14 times. There’s a lot to see and explore in the state. But in past visits, I’ve pretty much ignored Capitol Reef National Park, reducing it to a simple “drive thru” and a couple of stops for scenic overlooks. The other “big four” national parks in Utah deserve a lot of attention – they’re spectacular: Zion, Bryce, Arches and Canyonlands. My family and I have spent a lot of time in these destinations. And now I’ve finally spent enough time in Capitol Reef to better understand why this region deserves being one of our nation’s 63 ..read more

Arctic snow geese and sandhill cranes flock to Bosque del Apache On occasion, I time my vacations around an opportunity to experience a special event. Yosemite National Park in early May when its waterfalls are most powerful. Rocky Mountain National Park in September for the majestic elk bugling. And the Blue Ridge Parkway in October for the blazing foliage. One of my favorite trips involved arriving at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, timed for the arrival of thousands of Arctic snow geese and sandhill cranes that migrate there to winter feed. Of course, sometimes na ..read more

New Mexico park offers great outdoor hiking If you’re near Santa Fe or Albuquerque, New Mexico, check out Bandelier National Monument and its fascinating ruins of ancient cultures and its network of hiking trails. We visited in early November when the monument was less crowded and the temps provided a nice chill for hiking. But on the downside, we encountered fewer wildlife and no wildflowers. I’d like to return in the spring for more diversity. We looked for Bandelier’s famous Abert’s squirrel, but only spotted mule deer. We climbed four sturdy ladders 140 feet to reach Alcove House ..read more

 Chiricahua National Monument near Tucson I’ve visited Bryce Canyon 10 times, Yellowstone six. And some places just once – I enjoyed the opportunity to experience the destination but probably won’t return. After my first visit, Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona is already calling me back. Pronounced “Cheer-ih-cow-ah,” this national park unit is located about two hours east of Tucson. No one recommended it to me – I learned about Chiricahua by studying a map for possible stops during my autumn desert trip throughout New Mexico and Arizona. I explored the monument during early Novemb ..read more

National park protects precious resources My family visited Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona 35 years ago. Like many people, we stopped at a few overlooks, photographed a few of the ancient logs and quickly moved on to the next park of our vacation itinerary. Nothing wrong with that. Flash forward, just three months ago, I returned to Petrified Forest to see if I missed anything important. And of course, I discovered the park entailed much more, such as great walking trails, colorful landscapes and fascinating geology. The Crystal Forest Trail provided some of the best close-up vi ..read more

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area In northern New Mexico, about 40 miles south of Farmington and Bloomfield, lies one of the strangest and most captivating destinations I’ve ever visited. I had never heard of Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area until a year ago. Since then, I’ve schemed how and when to explore the area and finally visited in early November with WRT co-owner, Martin Rose. The barren badlands feature geologic formations reminiscent of science fiction movies and alien landscapes, including pinnacles, hoodoos, spires and my favorite section called the “Egg Hatchery.” From the photos ac ..read more

National park offers giant family playground I liked White Sands National Park in southern Arizona, but I wasn’t gaga over it. Now I need to explain that assessment. First, it’s just one person’s opinion. Others would disagree. And remember, I’m a 67-year-old active adult who understands he’s not a teenager anymore. I arrived mid afternoon in early November and drove into the park, stopping along the way for short walks and turnout views. I didn’t enjoy it. All the dunes were trampled with footprints and runways from sand sleds. Not the pristine and iconic views I remember from online photos ..read more

Swamp destination showcases wildlife and wildflowers I was traveling near Charleston, SC, with a free half-day and no plans. So I decided to walk and explore nature somewhere on this hot and humid August day. After surfing the internet, I settled on Cypress Gardens. There are multiple options for exploring South Carolina’s low-country ecosystems, but I specifically chose Cypress Gardens because it’s a little more touristy with facilities and attractions, with easy parking, access to trails and a reasonable entry fee – I paid $6.50 as a senior. The swamp features diverse wildlife, like this ..read more

Updates for 2021: Ghost pipe / Indian pipe is plant with no chlorophyll; found in most U.S. states Wandering Rose Travels readers like one oddity of nature … in fact they liked, commented and shared it 12,600 times! Our Ghost Pipe (or Ghost Plant, Indian Pipe or Corpse Plant) wildflower post is by far the most popular in our three years on Facebook. It’s not unusual for our posts to reach 10,000-20,000 viewers and receive 1,000-ish reactions. But the Ghost Pipe post blew those numbers away with 123,000 views and more than 1,700 shares. Never heard of this wildflower? Neither had we until hiki ..read more