Malta: A Mediterranean gem of history, culture, and stunning coastlines

Malta has been inhabited since at least 6,500 BC. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Knights of Malta, French and British have all left their imprints on the country. What an amazing mixture of history and cultures. Add in a wonderful melding of foods from Africa and Europe, layered with the Mediterranean, and you have the makings of a truly great travel destination.

In 2002 a swollen Dosewallips River and a road washout changed Olympic National Park

Since 2002, when the Dosewallips River washed out this Olympic National Park eastern entrance road, access to this area is a 7 mile longer walk. I remember family summers spent in our camper enjoying this section of the park. Now, the only way to access this area is with a pack. Abandoned campgrounds and remnants of the old road remain, but now only functional to assist animals and hikers. As a positive, with some physical effort the area is open for exploration without the crowds of the past. The Dosewallips is a beautiful river and runs through spectacular country.
 

The Grand Canyon's North Rim

The Grand Canyon's spectacular mile high walls provide a largely intact display of the earth's crust dating back as far as two billion years, easily pre-dating the oldest know living organism on the planet at 250 million years. At 8,000 ft-msl, the North Rim offers spectacular hiking, views, night skies, and far fewer people than the South Rim.
 

One of the truly classic hiking trails in the U.S.; Buckskin Gulch slot canyon

This is considered one of the longest and deepest slot canyons in the world at nearly 20 continuous miles. The slot canyon has challenges, including navigating through rock jams, pools, quicksand and the potential for flash floods that can rapidly make water depth in the slot approach 50 feet. Hikers are told not to enter the canyon if there is a chance of rain within a 100-mile radius. We had our share of pools and mud pits to navigate since this is late monsoon season. Well worth it, as Buckskin Gulch is a wonderland of sandstone colors and swirls that is truly amazing to see.
 

Monument Valley, one of the most photographed places on the planet

Stradling the borders of Utah and Arizona, the Navajo Nation's Monument Valley is one of the most photographed places on the planet. Made famous by John Ford's movies from the early-mid 1900s, Monument Valley represents what many people picture as the old west.
 

The home of three very impressive natural bridges and a friendly tarantula

Natural Bridges National Monument, in the four corners area of southern Utah, contains three very impressive natural bridges, one of which is listed as the thirteenth largest in the world. Different from an arch, a natural bridge is formed by erosion via water flowing through a stream bed that slowly erode meanders, or goosenecks, in a stream to create the bridge. During this hike, while on the lookout for rattlesnakes, we encountered this tarantula while taking a break.
 

One of the finest examples of "entrenched meanders" in the world

 

This section of the San Juan River near Mexican Hat, Utah is called the Great Goosenecks. The photo was taken 1,000 feet above the river. The meandering pattern originated several million years ago when the river was flowing on a relatively flat plain and the entire Colorado Plateau was slowly uplifted. As the plateau was uplifted, the river cut downward creating the goosenecks.