Prisoner of Hopes

Category: Nature

  • Mountain Hike: Travel Goals Alaska

    Mountain Hike: Travel Goals Alaska

    After spending the morning in Skagway, I want to spend some time in the woods. The lower lake trail is touted as a two mile loop trail around a mountain lake. To get to the loop, there is a steep trail up the mountain beginning across the railroad tracks from the Skagway Hotel. Our new…

  • Takao: Travel Goals Japan

    Takao: Travel Goals Japan

    Today we planned to travel to Nagano to see the snow monkeys. But when we woke up, we just were not feeling like a long train ride in order to catch a bus in order to hike. Perhaps earlier in the trip it would have been worth it, but with only two days remaining in…

  • Zoo In the Rain: Travel Goals Japan

    Zoo In the Rain: Travel Goals Japan

    I love zoos. At least I love them when they are modern, champion conservation, and have plenty of room for the animals. National zoos are usually stellar, so we didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to visit the National Zoo of Japan. We head to Ueno park, even though it is raining. We are…

  • Japanese Garden: Travel Goals Japan

    Japanese Garden: Travel Goals Japan

    We came to Kanazawa to see the castle. But the cherry blossoms are at their peak and a world famous garden sits just across the street. Kenroku-en garden is considered one of the best traditional Japanese gardens in Japan. I feel lucky to see it as the pale pink blossoms blanket the garden. It is…

  • Fuji-San: Travel Goals Japan

    Fuji-San: Travel Goals Japan

    When you think of Japan, you think of Mount Fuji. Iconically shaped, Fuji is a stratovolcano. At 12,389 feet, it is the highest mountain in Japan. My first glimpse of the mountain was from the train as we made our way to Kyoto a few days ago. It looked close enough to touch even from…

  • Mendenhall Madness: Travel Goals Alaska

    Mendenhall Madness: Travel Goals Alaska

    Our first stop in Alaska is Juneau. The ship docked around 3pm and will leave port around 9 pm. We decide to skip the crowded city streets (and they are ridiculously crowded) and head to the Tongass National Forest to see the Mendenhall Glacier. Sounds easy enough but I don’t want a tour group experience.…

  • Sakura Season: Travel Goals Japan

    Sakura Season: Travel Goals Japan

    All of Japan is awash in blossoms. We thought when we arrived in early March that we would miss the “sakura” season. I was pleasantly surprised to see blossoms immediately. Our first days in Tokyo included multiple cherry blossom encounters in a cemetery, a park, and even on a pedestrian overpass along the highway. As…

  • Tourist Mecca or Sacred Mountain?: Travel Goals Japan

    Tourist Mecca or Sacred Mountain?: Travel Goals Japan

    Today’s destination is Fushimi Inari Taisha, a temple that has over 3 miles of trail up Mount Inari. The mountain temple path is lined with over 10,000 Tori Gates. My son has picked the location because of internet reviews and photos of the Tori gates. It does look impressive and a little intimidating. However, if…

  • Caving: Rural Road Trips Arizona

    Caving: Rural Road Trips Arizona

    We find ourselves in Arizona near Karchner Caverns. We booked a Koa near highway 10 and within a short drive to Tombstone, where we will adventure tomorrow. But today, we need to secure two tickets to see the cave. I call and ask for same day tickets. I am put on hold. I tell them…

  • Stroll Through The Park: Travel Goals Japan

    Stroll Through The Park: Travel Goals Japan

    A remembrance of the day that every museum and cultural attract in Tokyo is closed. We make our own fun.