If you ever go to the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, they start every film with the pre-show, "curtain call." I'm sure they refer to it by some other name. "Curtain call" works for me. The music swells, they lift the curtain, and behind that is... another curtain. And then another. … Continue reading Layers Upon Layers
Recap: Hike the Rainbow
Knowing what the readers of Campfire Tales want is a tricky thing, mainly because you aren't a very commenting crowd. Not a criticism. I'm just sayin' is all. Generally your responses are based on what brought you here in the first place, and since Campfire Tales is all over the place topically, I've been on … Continue reading Recap: Hike the Rainbow
Wind Cave: You First, Alice
Do you ever hear someone say something like, "You can eat the stalk of rhubarb, but the leaves are poison," and you ask yourself, "Who was the second fool to try rhubarb?" Or, "I hated that movie the first time I watched it." I can only shake my head when I hear that. "Um... so … Continue reading Wind Cave: You First, Alice
Lake Mead: Historic Railroad Trail
Technically, I should probably call this, "Hoover Dam: Historic Railroad Trail." However, it is not Hoover Dam you look at and walk the perimeter of (at a distance) for the better part of the hike. But without the dam there is no lake to see. And without the water, there's no reason for the dam. … Continue reading Lake Mead: Historic Railroad Trail
Hot Springs: Waterfall
Hot Springs South Dakota waterfall: Enchanting, yes? Like a fairy tale. And like a fairy tale, there's a dark side:
Dinosaur Park: A Blast From the Past
Flying into, staying in, and exploring Rapid City South Dakota on a "national park vacation" wasn't only out of convenience to Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Wind Cave, Theodore Roosevelt, Devils Tower or Little Bighorn... (I think that's most of them; we didn't see them all.) Neither was it the affordability of a rental car to take … Continue reading Dinosaur Park: A Blast From the Past
Little Bighorn Battlefield: First Class
Every good trip benefits from at least one surprise. If everything goes exactly as planned, then there is one thing you forgot to plan on: the unexpected. Little Bighorn Battlefield definitely wasn't on the agenda. Given limited time and long drives back and forth between Rapid City and Yellowstone National Park, the plan included one … Continue reading Little Bighorn Battlefield: First Class
Pictograph Cave State Park: Upside-Down World
In the cinematic masterpiece You've Got Mail, the character played by Tom Hanks explains the appeal of The Godfather. A sample: The Godfather answers all of life's questions. What to pack for a trip? "Leave the gun, take the cannolis." ~ character of Joe Fox, You've Got Mail, screenplay by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron … Continue reading Pictograph Cave State Park: Upside-Down World
Badlands National Park: Unexplored Trails
Below are four approaches to exploring a National Park with limited time. (This holds true for cities or countries or museums, and so on, but let's just discuss parks.) See nothing: Take a picture with the park sign. Get a National Park passport stamped at the Visitor Center. Get back on the bus. (These types … Continue reading Badlands National Park: Unexplored Trails
Grand Prismatic Spring: Inspiring
A few years back, as I found myself buying orange everything (furniture, clothes, dishes, to name a few), I explained my new obsession to a friend, something like this: ME: My favorite color used to be blue, but lately one definition of blue brings me down: sadness. My new favorite is orange. FRIEND: What does … Continue reading Grand Prismatic Spring: Inspiring
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