Hiking ‘Jurassic Park’ in Bigfoot Country at Prairie Creek Redwoods

Prairie Creek Redwoods doesn’t need a gimmick. But if the idea of Bigfoot prowling a towering old-growth forest or of tiny flesh-eating dinosaurs scrambling through a fern-laden canyon stimulates your imagination, then head to California’s Humboldt County. Continue reading “Hiking ‘Jurassic Park’ in Bigfoot Country at Prairie Creek Redwoods”

Guided Hike Lifts the Veil on Djerassi, an R&D Lab for Artists in the Santa Cruz Mountains

The innovators at the Djerassi research compound in the mountains above Palo Alto have little need for lab coats or goggles. You won’t find them crafting code in a bean bag chair or doing deals on napkins at Buck’s of Woodside. Djerassi is about innovation in art.

Continue reading “Guided Hike Lifts the Veil on Djerassi, an R&D Lab for Artists in the Santa Cruz Mountains”

The Canadian Rocky Mountain Icefields have over a hundred glaciers. Many are visible from the Icefields Parkway. Dawn Page / CoastsideSlacking

21 Goofy Reasons to Visit Canada: Maxi Bars, Timbits and Pocket Loonies

Part 6 and last in a series:

The Coastside Slackers had an amazing time in the Canadian Rockies: Soaring mountains, roaring waterfalls, exotic wildlife, orange marshesplacid Alpine lakes. We could drop the mic and end it here, but we wanted to share a few tongue-in-cheek thrills that amused us along the way. We hope you’re amused, too … Continue reading “21 Goofy Reasons to Visit Canada: Maxi Bars, Timbits and Pocket Loonies”

Saskatchewan Glacier from the Parker Ridge Trail. Dawn Page / CoastsideSlacking

Canada’s Icefields Parkway Eclipses Our Beloved Yosemite; Gobsmacked at Parker Ridge

Part 5 in a series: For nearly 30 years, Yosemite National Park defined mountain majesty in our world view. And then we traveled slack-jawed through Canada’s Icefields Parkway. OMG. We need to get out more.

Imagine if the Yosemite Valley were 140 miles of soaring mountain peaks. Conjure up hundreds of ribbon waterfalls pouring meltwater from scores of glaciers into dozens of meandering milky blue streams and turquoise lakes. Now add hundreds of thousands of acres of alpine forest and slash the tourist per square mile ratio. Then we might have a competition. Continue reading “Canada’s Icefields Parkway Eclipses Our Beloved Yosemite; Gobsmacked at Parker Ridge”

Coyote in Banff National Park. Dawn Page / CoastsideSlacking

Loaded for Bear in Banff, We Settle for a Coyote; the Man Who Cried “Moose”

Part 2 of a series:

Who tromps through the Canadian Rockies hoping to see a grizzly with bear repellent in their pockets? Um. We did. Perhaps to the good fortune of all, the Coastside Slackers didn’t meet up with a bear. But we did enjoy a handful of fun critter encounters. And we nearly saw a moose! Continue reading “Loaded for Bear in Banff, We Settle for a Coyote; the Man Who Cried “Moose””

Meltwater from glaciers carry silt downstream, refracting blue and green light, forming the beautiful turquoise lake colors in Banff National Park.

A Turquoise Lake in Banff Without the Hub-Bub; Go Ahead, Skip Lake Louise

Part 1 of a series:

Ice blue. Mint green. Cyan. Turquoise. However you describe the hue of the lakes and rivers fed by glacial meltwater in the Canadian Rockies, it is spectacular. But why the unique color palate? A hike to the headwaters of Bow Lake is an amazing way to enjoy and explore the effect. Continue reading “A Turquoise Lake in Banff Without the Hub-Bub; Go Ahead, Skip Lake Louise”