Starling Travel

November 24, 2009

Big Bend National Park, TX: Chisos Mountains

Filed under: Hiking, Places To Visit, Texas — Laura Moncur @ 1:19 pm

I love this video of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park in Texas.

Here is a video of a hike to the South Rim of Emery Peak.

Where: Big Bend National Park in Texas Google Map

August 13, 2009

J. E. Haynes: Yellowstone Photographer

Filed under: Hiking, Montana, Museums, Places To Visit — Laura Moncur @ 10:00 am

While going through my grandmother’s collection of knitting and crochet books, I found this old photograph of Lower Falls in Yellowstone.

J. E. Haynes: Yellowstone Photographer by LauraMoncur from Flickr

The information on the back made us very excited.

J. E. Haynes: Yellowstone Photographer by LauraMoncur from Flickr

It is a hand painted photograph by J. E. Haynes, son of Frank Jay Haynes, the first official Yellowstone photographer. F. Jay Haynes actually named many of the Yellowstone sites and was instrumental in documenting Yellowstone. J. E. Haynes, followed in his footsteps.

My grandmother’s photograph is pretty faded, so I tried to spruce it up a bit.

J. E. Haynes: Yellowstone Photographer by LauraMoncur from Flickr

Here is what the sight looks like today.

Lower Falls 2009 by LauraMoncur from Flickr

Lower Falls is located in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

August 7, 2009

Zion’s National Park Announcement

Filed under: Camping, Hiking, Places To Visit, Tourist Attractions, Utah — Laura Moncur @ 1:45 pm

Here is the announcement of the formation of Zion’s National Park in the New York Tribune back in 1907.

Wonderful natural bridges by The Library of Congress from Flickr

It reads:

Wonderful natural bridges and other wild scenery to be included in two new national parks.

It’s nice to see how people viewed our national parks one hundred years ago. Instead of complaining that the government is “stealing” our land, the press was excited to share the beauty of the areas that the parks protected. Because of that foresight, we can see these sites even now.

June 22, 2009

Two-Heel Drive on the Guadalupe River Trail

Filed under: California, Hiking, Places To Visit — Laura Moncur @ 12:32 pm

Guadalupe River Park sign by busybeingborn from FlickrTwo-Heel Drive has a beautiful review of the Guadalupe River Trail in San Jose. You can read it and see all the lovely photos here:

Speaking of flowers, the best excuse for walking the Guadalupe River Trail is to check out the nearby San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. A couple years back it was a monument to the city’s errant previous mayor, who could introduce appalling City Hall structures to stroke his ego but could not prevent the once-glorious rose garden from declining into an embarrassing state of disrepair. The good news is it’s great now — a riot of pure rosy loveliness, even with blooms fading a bit with summer’s approach.


Where: The Guadalupe River Trail San Jose, California

Length: 11 miles open (discontinuous)

Surface: Gravel – Alviso at Gold Street to Highway 880 (6.3 mi.)
Paved – Highway 880 to Grant St/Highway 280 (2.7 mi.) Paved – Chynoweth Avenue to Lake Almaden Park (2.0 mi.)

August 1, 2008

Muir Woods Trip

Filed under: California, Hiking, Places To Visit — Laura Moncur @ 9:13 am

Our friend, atp_tyreseus, is driving across the country from San Francisco to Cincinnati right now. Before he left California, however, he took a trip to Muir Woods. He was kind enough to share his pictures with us on his Flickr photostream:

Considered “the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world,” Muir Woods is nestled in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. You can see the national parks’ website for it here:


View Larger Map

Just north of San Francisco, you can see a lovely forest of redwood trees and enjoy the best that California wilderness has to offer.

July 18, 2008

Ted Rheingold Shares His One-Minute Vacation

Filed under: Hiking, One Minute Vacations — Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am

Ted went camping in the Lakes Basin Region in the North Sierras and shot this quick one-minute vacation so you can feel like you’re out in the wilderness for just a minute.

Enjoy this moment of zen!

Via: Spidey Senses -> Tingling :: Ted Rheingold’s Web Journal » Blog Archive » Sweating Mushroom Hunting Insect

May 23, 2008

One Minute Vacation: Clover in the Wind

Filed under: Hiking, One Minute Vacations, Oregon, Places To Visit — Laura Moncur @ 12:05 pm

I loved this moment while hiking on the Wildwood Trail in Welches, Oregon.

Those little clover leaves taste like sour apples if you bite them. I don’t go around biting flora, but a local said mentioned it to me, so we tried them.

If you are feeling stressed at work, take a One Minute Vacation and watch the clover in the wind.


Where:

Wildwood Recreation Area
65670 E Highway 26
Welches, OR 97067
Google Map

Phone: (503) 622-3696

May 18, 2008

One Minute Vacation: Watching the Water at Wildwood

Filed under: Hiking, One Minute Vacations, Oregon, Places To Visit — Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am

Take a One Minute Vacation to the Wildwood Recreation Area. While I was filming the latest Walking Video, I took a break and watched the water for a minute. Come along with me and relax by the Salmon River.


Where:

Wildwood Recreation Area
65670 E Highway 26
Welches, OR 97067
Google Map

Phone: (503) 622-3696

October 25, 2007

Postcard of the Week: Timpanogos Cave

Filed under: Hiking, Places To Visit, Postcards, Utah — Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am

Jared, our friend, is only four years old, but he has been diligently practicing his writing. He sent us this postcard last month and we were delighted!

Here’s the front:

Timpanogos Cave Front

Here’s the back:

Timpanogos Cave Back

The postcard reads:

Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah: A column guards the entrance to a lighted alove against the greenish flowstone and drapery-covered wall of the Big Room in Middle Cave. Photographer – William Hendricks

They write:

Dear Laura and Mike,

I opened the door to the cave.

Love, Jared


Please send me a postcard from your travels or your hometown. If you do and it’s interesting, I will publish your postcard on Starling Travel.

Send your postcards to:

Starling Travel
Attention: Laura Moncur
P.O. Box 522032
Salt Lake City, Utah 84152

It’s like sending a postcard to the whole world when you go on vacation. It’s like bragging about your hometown to the everyone on the planet.

September 12, 2007

South Carolina: Scarecrow Wedding in Spartanburg

Filed under: Hiking, Places To Visit — Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am

Imagine walking on a hiking trail in Spartanburg, South Carolina when you happen upon this scene:

Scarecrow Wedding

The Scarecrow Wedding decorated the trail back in March and entertained the walkers, runners and hikers along the way. You can see more photos here:


Where:

« Previous Entries - Next Page »

Powered by WordPress
(c) 2005 Michael Moncur, Laura Moncur, and Starling Studios