Do You Have a Favorite Season to Travel?

On September 18, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Photo Challenge9 Comments

Autumn (or fall) is truly our favorite time of year and we often travel during this season as it can be an off-season in many countries. The changing leaves are certainly part of the attraction for autumn, but we also enjoy the cooler temperatures and the anticipation of the holiday season. Because we live at a higher altitude, the trees change earlier here in Colorado than in most other places, so we often get to see the changing colors more than once during the season.

Vibrant Colors in the Colorado Mountains

There are many festivals at this time of year, such as Oktoberfest, sausage festivals, and different markets, which makes it even more interesting. The list of places that we have visited in September, October, and November is quite long and the scenery can be quite varied. Obviously, the later that you travel into November, you have to take into account the potential for weather issues, but that can be a risk whenever you travel.

There is something special about traveling during this time of year when the trees around the sights are vibrant with color. In our opinion, it only adds to the experience and we have many fond memories of seeing the countryside, mountains, and rivers. Is there a time of year when you prefer to travel?

Mueller State Park in Colorado

On August 17, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Colorado3 Comments

We certainly love hiking in Colorado and one of our favorite destinations is Mueller State Park, which is in Divide. We always plan a trip for this time of year as the Aspen leaves turn to a vibrant golden-yellow. We are a few weeks away from our annual pilgrimage, but we have gone hiking in the park at least a dozen times over the years. Any time of year when the ground isn’t covered with snow is a great time to visit the park and there are trails to suit any level of hiker. There are also camping sites, but we would highly recommend making reservations in advance as they often book up during the busy seasons.

One of the reasons that we like hiking in Mueller State Park is that it has beautiful views of what we in Colorado Springs consider to be the backside of Pikes Peak. We have seen many different animals during our visits including deer and elk, but seeing wild turkeys was definitely one of our favorite memories. It is always a good idea to stop at the visitor center and talk to the rangers there about what trails to hike and which ones to avoid. Bears usually get active as winter approaches and they start foraging to store fat for their hibernation.

The Elk Rub Their Antlers Against the Trees

We certainly enjoy the beautiful autumn colors from many different places around the world and we will always remember how beautiful it was traveling down the Rhine River in Germany with all of the colorful trees. There is, however, something special about the vibrant colors of the Aspen trees against the backdrop of the pine trees and dark boulders. We would certainly recommend that anyone visiting Colorado Springs, if you have the time to make the 50 minute drive, go to Mueller State Park. Even if you don’t get out and hike, just driving through the park and seeing the incredible scenery is well worth it.

How Do You Get Noticed?

On March 6, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Photo Challenge10 Comments

Even if you are a wallflower or not, there are times when you want to be noticed. Everyone wants to be recognized for their accomplishments, whether personal or work related, we all need validation of what we’ve achieved. Unfortunately, we don’t always get the acknowledgement that we are hoping for and sometimes it seems as though people only notice when things go wrong. Although we should all have a sense of humility, there are times when you have to subtly bring attention to the things that you are proud of. It is human nature to want to be seen, to stand out in the crowd, perhaps even to be the center of attention at times. Maybe it isn’t just human nature, but just part of nature itself. The trees in these photos seem to be trying to grab everyone’s attention as if to say “look at me”. Perhaps we could learn a lesson from Mother Nature and learn to let ourselves stand out and accept some praise.