324 Search Results for "rock"

• Chimney Rock NC

  • From: plonde
  • Description:
  • 6 days ago
  • Views: 11
  • Not yet rated

• Our Budget Travel Trip to Irel

  • From: CliffK
  • Description:

     

    

    This trip actually began last June, when I was notified by email that I had won the Budget Travel Photo Contest with a photo I had taken in Costa Rica. My wife didn't even know I had submitted an entry, and she was in a meeting all afternoon, so I could not call her. We were meeting friends for dinner and had all of five minutes in the car together for me to inform her, "Um, honey, I have some news for you..." She screamed and quickly responded, "Well, I guess we know how we're going to use our furlough days this year!"

    After doing our research, we settled on a region (southwest Ireland) and a time frame (October, after the high season but before it gets too cold). I worked with Una at Sceptre Tours to iron out the details, and before we knew it we were on our way.

    We flew directly into Shannon, arriving at 7:00 a.m. on a Friday morning with a full day ahead of us. A friend had told us how beautiful it was to fly into Shannon where you could see all the green as you were landing. Well, at 7:00 a.m. on an October morning, the sun had yet to rise and it was still pitch black. Not to mind, we got our rental car and hit the ground running (that is, with a little adjustment for getting used to driving on the left side of the road). First stop: Galway. Although it was raining, we weren't going to let a little rain deter us from having fun. After stopping at the TI, we walked through Eyre Square (aka John F. Kennedy Park) and explored the old town center. We stepped inside the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, where I was impressed with the testament to the Widow Jane Eyre's generosity, commemorated on a plaque. We then walked, struggling to keep our umbrellas open against the wind and the rain, to the much more modern Galway Cathedral. This is a cathedral you want to visit during the day so you can better see and appreciate a more modern approach to stained glass artwork. Keep an eye out for the Irish Holy Family, where Mary is knitting and Jesus is offering tea to Joseph. Also look for the mosaic (hidden the day we were there behind a curtain, but that did not stop us) of John F. Kennedy.  Needing some lunch, we found our way to Busker Brownes, where my wife had Aubergine and Sweet Potato Gratin and I had delicious Irish Seafood Chowder, accompanied by tasty brown soda bread. We did not want to sit too long and let our jet lag overcome us, so we got back to our car and pushed on, driving northwest toward Letterfrack and the Kylemore Abbey. One of the best ways to combat jet lag is to spend time outdoors, and so our first activity at Kylemore was to tour the walled garden. Still nice in October, this must be even more beautiful in the middle of summer. The Abbey itself is lovely, though only a few rooms are open to tour. Also on the grounds is a small Neo-Gothic church, which is also worth a visit. Finishing at the Abbey, we still had a relatively short drive to Clifden and our first night accommodations at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. We checked in, dropped our bags in our room, and then walked about a mile into town to find a light supper. Back at the hotel, we headed downstairs to a common room where we thought we could sit by a fire and write in our journals. Ha! The combination of the warmth of the fire and the full day of touring, on top of our jet lag, and we were both dozing after writing only a sentence or two. However, it was also very effective: we got to bed early, got a full night's sleep, and when we woke up in the morning, we were both effectively over our jet lag.

    Saturday morning we woke up to the first of our full Irish breakfasts: a lavish buffet spread of cereals, yogurt, fresh fruit, rolls, eggs, bacon, sausage, and the traditional Irish accompaniments of grilled tomatoes and black and white pudding. Although we had another full day ahead of us, we decided we did not have to be held hostage to our agenda and allowed ourselves to backtrack a bit, driving back towards Letterfrack and the Connemara National Park. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day to hike, so we took the trail to the top of Diamond Hill. This wasn't the Ireland I was expecting: instead of the lush greens one hears about, this area was still beautiful but much more in shades of brown. Partly this was due to the season, but also the geography, as the terrain is very wet and boggy. We made it to the top of the hill, and were rewarded with wonderful views both of the harbor and of Kylemore Abbey from above. Once back in the car, already past noon, we headed out towards our next destination: back past Galway and on to the Burren. The Burren is a region of massive outcroppings of rock that have been scoured by glaciers, rich in archaeological sites, the most famous of which is the Poulnabrone Dolmen. One look at this landscape and it is no wonder why there are so many stone fences and stone buildings in this country. It was getting late, and we had one more goal for this day: to get to the Cliffs of Moher. I had hoped we'd have a beautiful sunset looking out over the Atlantic from the cliffs, but although the sunset itself was obscured by fog, it was still light when we arrived and we enjoyed the day dwindling away to twilight while there. After another full day, we recognized the wisdom of our chioce to go in October: pleasant weather for hiking and no crowds to contend with. Saturday was the night of our castle stay, so we drove (now in the dark) back to Dromoland. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that they had upgraded us from a standard to a deluxe room. This is not your drafty medieval castle: the room was quite spacious and luxurious. Sunday morning I went for a run on the castle grounds, through a wooded area where I came upon (and frightened) many pheasant.

    Friday and Saturday were both extremely full days, but this was our first time in Ireland and we wanted to see everything. Recognizing the need to slow down a bit, we had planned to spend two nights at our next stop: Kinsale. Driving south past Cork on Sunday we got our first taste of the beautiful green countryside that Ireland is so famous for. As the sun breaks through the clouds, the lush green fields just pop out at you. Kinsale very much has a small-town feel, located on a beautiful, well-protected harbor, rich in history. It is one of Ireland's "Tidy Towns," a competition first launched by Bord Failte in an effort to improve the appearance of towns and villages throughout the country for the main tourist season. In addition to just wandering the streets and exploring the shops and restaurants, we took the "Historic Stroll in Old Kinsale." Our guide, Barry, was a wealth of information about the history of Kinsale, from the occupation by the Spanish Armada to thenearby sinking of the Lusitania, including stories as well of the real Robinson Crusoe. Fun side trips included Charles Fort across the harbor and the Cobh Heritage Center, about a 45-minute drive. Our mainstay through most of Ireland was basic pub food, which we enjoyed, but in Kinsale ("the Gourmet Capital of Ireland"), we had to try a nicer restaurant. We couldn't have been happier than with a visit to Jim Edwards, where we had a delicious meal of grilled salmon.

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 27

• McMurdo Station-Antarctica

  • From: tumor5256
  • Description:

    Top Photo:  Landing at McMurdo Station, Antarctica - 1990's

    Bottom Photo:  View of McMurdo Station, Antarctica from atop Castle Rock - 1990's

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 18
  • Not yet rated

• Farmland Foliage

  • From: rschoeff
  • Description:

    My wife and I traveled to Columbia County Wisconsin to do some hiking up Gibraltar Rock at the end of October.  The bluff in this County Park stands about 400 feet above the farmland below and offers a wonderfull view of the surrounding area and the fall colors near the end of their changes. This photo was taken from the bluff and shows one of the views we were treated to

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 28

• Paris Rock

  • From: scottwmc
  • Description:

    Paris France... rocking out if front of a church.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 19
  • Not yet rated

• Red Rock Park

  • From: cklohm
  • Description:

    Super Hot in Red Rock State Park in Nevada.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 24

• California Dreamin'

  • From: traveljunkiejess
  • Description:

    So Jaron and I decided to go to San Francisco for the Memorial Day weekend. And we are just having a blast. I was fortunate enough to be able to book us the earliest flight in and the latest flight out to maxamize our time here. But before I go into any details as to the trip so far I have to do a mini rant on people who think that they can just openly cut in lines. I don't arrive at the airport early to have a fat middle age lady think that there is not a line for the A group and jump right up to the front of the line in front of me. And she wasn't just cutting in front of me. There was a good 7-10 people in line behind me. Well as most of you know I am not quiet about these things and I was pretty loud about my distaste for CUTTERS. I think she got the point. But the irony is that in the rental car line they were right in front of us again. I had half a mind to cut right in front of her.

     

    Anywhoo Jaron and I were looking forward to renting a Dodge Neon or equivelent. Something that gets more then 15 miles a gallon. Unfortunetly because of the holiday they were all gone. So they gave us a free upgrade. The only problem, it was a PT Cruiser. Most of my friends know of my deep distaste for the PT Cruiser. As someone that has worked in the classic car field for some time I just see them as a lame excuse to look like a classic. And for other non-superficial reasons I have ridden in the back seat of them and they are not comfortable and nor are they roomy. But the plus side. It is a convertible. What is more ideal then having a convertible when you are in California when the weather is gorgeous. I can't think of one.

    So as of now Jaron and I have taken a trip to many of the sights of San Fran including Pier 39, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alchtrez. Not to mention driving Lombard street, the crookedest road in the world. And let me tell you that it is a scary thing trying to drive up that steep road with tons of tourists cars in front of you and behind you and even though you have a automatic you are still somewhat rolling down the hill. My hands were all clamy at the thought of rolling down backwards aimlessly into other cars.

    Then Jaron and I decided to hit up a Oakland A's game. (Thanks Jen for the info) After a fun day of sight seeing at the Golden Gate bridge. That bridge is soooo beautiful and I must have at least 2 rolls dedicated to pictures of it. So we went to the game. And well, they sucked. But because it was Memorial Day they were having a fireworks display after the game and I can say this in all honesty that this was the best fireworks show that I have ever seen in my LIFE. It was going off to classic rock songs of Santana and Journey etc and whenever a major part in the song happened a firework would explode. It was pretty sweet. So even though the A's lost the event was a lot of fun. They even let you go down and sprawl out on the baseball field to watch.

     

    Then on Tuesday Jaron and I went on a wine and Muir Woods tour. The wine tour was really awesome and really informative and I have a new appreciation for wine. The Muir woods trip was really cool as well. We went hiking all through out these trees that had with stood hundreds of years and that were 3x the size of regular trees. Also stopping by the Sonoma Cheese Factory had it's perks too. MMMM Cheese. On the way back from our tour our guide took us to a little place off of the highway with perfect views of the Golden Gate bridge so I had more pics of it. The rest of the day was just spent doing lazy sightseeing. Our last day was spent pretty much just sleeping in and doing some outlet shopping. Well if any of you get the chance to go to San Fran I would highly recommend it.
    

  • Blog post
  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 29
  • Not yet rated

• Alfresco, not aldente!

  • From: horbinsr
  • Description:

    Driving near Custer Stae Park in South Dakota, I spotted the mother mountain sheep on a mountain side and followed her for a while. The ewe didn't spot me immediately and just kept rock climbing. Suddenly the lamb appeared. Mom waited patiently and after a bit of frolicing, an alfresco lunch was served. When the lamb finished they scampered quite quickly up the mountain side and out of sight.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 75

• Moab, UT - The Gooseneck - Dea

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    Moab, Utah is a paradise! I think it has something for just about anyone. Great outdoor activities abound! You can raft down the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers, hike in the red rock canyons or in the beautiful Manti La Sal Forest, repel, go fishing, mountain bike on world class trails, or just take a simple walk in some of the most unique and breath taking areas on earth.

    You can't beat the weather. If you love the heat - the summers in Moab bring it. Summer temps can top 110 F. However, escape from the heat is only a short drive up the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, where temperatures can be up to 30 degrees cooler. 

    Moab and the surrounding area is historically and geographically rich with ancient Pueblo/Anasazi dwellings and cliff art to modern Native American cultural influences. The unique geography has drawn movie producers, including Stephen Spielberg and are a draw for amture and professional photographers alike. You can'f find many places that are blessed with as many state and national parks, forests, and heritage sites! Cuisine and shopping opportunities are enriched by the many ethnic and cultural influences in the area. Moab even had a hand in the Cold War (as a uranium mining center - no worries, no enriched uranium and the mills have been closed for many years).

     

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 54

• Moab, UT - Juniper - Dead Hors

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    Moab, Utah is a paradise! I think it has something for just about anyone. Great outdoor activities abound! You can raft down the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers, hike in the red rock canyons or in the beautiful Manti La Sal Forest, repel, go fishing, mountain bike on world class trails, or just take a simple walk in some of the most unique and breath taking areas on earth.

    You can't beat the weather. If you love the heat - the summers in Moab bring it. Summer temps can top 110 F. However, escape from the heat is only a short drive up the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, where temperatures can be up to 30 degrees cooler. 

    Moab and the surrounding area is historically and geographically rich with ancient Pueblo/Anasazi dwellings and cliff art to modern Native American cultural influences. The unique geography has drawn movie producers, including Stephen Spielberg and are a draw for amture and professional photographers alike. You can'f find many places that are blessed with as many state and national parks, forests, and heritage sites! Cuisine and shopping opportunities are enriched by the many ethnic and cultural influences in the area. Moab even had a hand in the Cold War (as a uranium mining center - no worries, no enriched uranium and the mills have been closed for many years).

     

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 60

• Moab, UT - Delicate Arch - Arc

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    Moab, Utah is a paradise! I think it has something for just about anyone. Great outdoor activities abound! You can raft down the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers, hike in the red rock canyons or in the beautiful Manti La Sal Forest, repel, go fishing, mountain bike on world class trails, or just take a simple walk in some of the most unique and breath taking areas on earth.

    You can't beat the weather. If you love the heat - the summers in Moab bring it. Summer temps can top 110 F. However, escape from the heat is only a short drive up the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, where temperatures can be up to 30 degrees cooler. 

    Moab and the surrounding area is historically and geographically rich with ancient Pueblo/Anasazi dwellings and cliff art to modern Native American cultural influences. The unique geography has drawn movie producers, including Stephen Spielberg and are a draw for amture and professional photographers alike. You can'f find many places that are blessed with as many state and national parks, forests, and heritage sites! Cuisine and shopping opportunities are enriched by the many ethnic and cultural influences in the area. Moab even had a hand in the Cold War (as a uranium mining center - no worries, no enriched uranium and the mills have been closed for many years).

     

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 63

• Moab, UT - Warner Lake - La Sa

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    Moab, Utah is a paradise! I think it has something for just about anyone. Great outdoor activities abound! You can raft down the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers, hike in the red rock canyons or in the beautiful Manti La Sal Forest, repel, go fishing, mountain bike on world class trails, or just take a simple walk in some of the most unique and breath taking areas on earth.

    You can't beat the weather. If you love the heat - the summers in Moab bring it. Summer temps can top 110 F. However, escape from the heat is only a short drive up the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, where temperatures can be up to 30 degrees cooler. 

    Moab and the surrounding area is historically and geographically rich with ancient Pueblo/Anasazi dwellings and cliff art to modern Native American cultural influences. The unique geography has drawn movie producers, including Stephen Spielberg and are a draw for amture and professional photographers alike. You can'f find many places that are blessed with as many state and national parks, forests, and heritage sites! Cuisine and shopping opportunities are enriched by the many ethnic and cultural influences in the area. Moab even had a hand in the Cold War (as a uranium mining center - no worries, no enriched uranium and the mills have been closed for many years).

     

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 28

• Moab, UT - Rainbow Over Anticl

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    Moab, Utah is a paradise! I think it has something for just about anyone. Great outdoor activities abound! You can raft down the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers, hike in the red rock canyons or in the beautiful Manti La Sal Forest, repel, go fishing, mountain bike on world class trails, or just take a simple walk in some of the most unique and breath taking areas on earth.

    You can't beat the weather. If you love the heat - the summers in Moab bring it. Summer temps can top 110 F. However, escape from the heat is only a short drive up the La Sal Mountain Loop Road, where temperatures can be up to 30 degrees cooler. 

    Moab and the surrounding area is historically and geographically rich with ancient Pueblo/Anasazi dwellings and cliff art to modern Native American cultural influences. The unique geography has drawn movie producers, including Stephen Spielberg and are a draw for amture and professional photographers alike. You can'f find many places that are blessed with as many state and national parks, forests, and heritage sites! Cuisine and shopping opportunities are enriched by the many ethnic and cultural influences in the area. Moab even had a hand in the Cold War (as a uranium mining center - no worries, no enriched uranium and the mills have been closed for many years).

     

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 43

• Kauai, HI - A Red-Crested Card

  • From: beezhan
  • Description:

    My wife and I found a fallen coconut on the eastern shore of Kauai (there's no shortage). After prying the husk off we cracked the nut on a rock and proceded to break away pieces for our lunch. Yummy! I took a little siesta on the grass while my wife splashed in the surf of a protected little cove. When I looked up, this red crested (Hawaiian) cardinal had made a meal for itself! I had my camera at hand, and voila!

    It still makes me smile!

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 56

• Sedona Sunset

  • From: horbinsr
  • Description:

    Sedona is a fun place and has some fascinating rock formations, but our best experience was on an off road tour which took us up to the top of a rim to witness a true Sedona sunset.

  • 1 week ago
  • Views: 82

• Panama, more than just a canal

  • From: barefootpanama
  • Description:

    Panama, more than just a canal             

         My most recent trip in Panama was one of the memorable trips I have ever taken.  We started with a well planned city tour on Sunday, first stop, the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. We watched ships pass through the locks from the roof deck, had a chance to view a movie on the construction of both the old and new canal projects and spent some time in the new museum. After passing by the old military zone, now the ‘City of Knowledge’, we went to the Amador and an island owned by the Smithsonian.  There you can learn all about Panama; how the land was formed, animals past and present, the American military presence, the flora, and all while enjoying the ocean views and maybe even spot a sloth in the trees. After a delicious and fresh seafood meal for lunch with the best view of the city skyline, we went to Casco Viejo.  Beautiful cathedrals, colonial buildings, and cobblestone streets make this a perfect place to stroll away the rest of the day. Be sure to try flavored shaved ice in Plaza de Francia  and seafood lovers won’t want to miss the famous fish market.

         After a short flight Monday morning, we were in a different world, the Comarca de Kuna Yala! There are 365 islands (covered in coconut trees and many uninhabited) that make up the Archipielago de San Blas. The Kuna Indians govern the region with little interference from the national government and even used coconuts as currency until the late 1990’s.  We spent two days soaking up the culture while mingling with the Kuna, shopping for their famous molas and watching the traditional dance. We also soaked up the sun on the white sand beaches and while snorkeling in the turquoise Caribbean ocean.

         Back to the city to hop on our transport for the rest of the trip, we crossed the Bridge of the Americas on our way to El Valle.  After about 2 hours, we were amazed at the change of scenery and climate. Located at about 3000ft, in the crater of one of the largest, extinct volcano’s, El Valle’s cool climate is great for hiking, spotting wildlife, and shopping for handicrafts.  There is also a ‘mud bath’, square-trunked tree, and local zoo where you can see some colorful frogs and other exotic animals.

         The Pacific beaches of Panama are another one of the many reasons to visit this wonderful country. Surfing some of the best waves in Central America, scuba diving in the national park compared to the Galapogos, or relaxing by a camp fire on the beach while listening to the sea and counting stars… our guide knew all the best spots!

         I think the parts of Panama that surprised me the most were the mountains. We drove higher and higher into the bread basket of the country with farms clinging to these hills up to an elevation above 8000ft. The lodge we used had wonderful spa treatments, the freshest food, great view of Panama’s tallest mountain (Volcan Baru) and included a hike in the cloud forest. One day we hiked the famous Quetzal trail to Boquete and even were lucky enough to spot one of these elusive, emerald green quetzal birds.  Boquete is a little lower and is well known for its flowers and coffee plantations but also has zip lines, white water rafting and rock climbing for the more adventurous.

        Before crossing the continental divide, we stopped at some nice little hot springs and cooled off in the Chiriqui River.  The views were amazing as we approached Bocas Del Toro.  This is a perfect place to wind up the tour. We visited another national park, sailed with dolphins, snorkeled by the mangroves and enjoyed the Caribbean nightlife.  Unfortunately, we also had to catch our flight back to Panama City and no one wanted to leave. 

         Our guide left the island the night before so he was there when we landed.  We had plenty of time to test our siesta skills and freshen up before our last night’s dinner. The guide knew the perfect place with exceptional views of the skyline at night. Seeing that our flight wasn’t until late the next day, we decided to test out the cities legendary nightlife… we were not disappointed!

        It is easy to see why Panama is becoming such a popular place to travel.  Safe and inexpensive, friendly people and beautiful places, adventure and wildlife, culture and history all make this a place that everyone will enjoy. Thanks to Kevin, our guide with Panama Breezes (www.barefootpanama.com) we had a most memorable vacation and will talk about it for years to come.

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 62
  • Not yet rated

• A Grand Scale

  • From: Kruzer57
  • Description:

    The Palace Of Fine Arts in San Francisco. This is also near the spot they filmed a scene of the movie "The Rock". This is where Sir Sean Connery meets his long lost daughter for the first time just before Nicholas Cage and many police cars fly in to recapture the escaped convict (Connery).

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 37
  • Not yet rated

• Golden Rock

  • From: caparro
  • Description:

    Good day,
    
    I would like to submit my images for review for the My Dream Destination Photo Submission Contest. Thank you in advance for taking the time to look at my work. I love your site/magazine and have always been a fan.

    The images are from a trip I took to Cambodia and Myanmar. They are part of larger body of work called 21DAYS.

    http://www.chriscaparro.com

    Again, Thank you for the consideration.

    chris

     

    caparro@gmail.com

  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 41

• Cathedral Rock Sedona Arizona

  • From: newyorkgirl
  • Description:
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 29
  • Not yet rated

• Cathedral Rock Sedona Arizona

  • From: newyorkgirl
  • Description:
  • 2 weeks ago
  • Views: 38