Posts in Nature
Maui, Hawai'i (Day Seven): Road to Hana & Wai’anapanapa State Park
Maui, Hawai'i (Day Seven): Road to Hana & Wai’anapanapa State Park

By far one of the most famous activities to do on Maui is to drive the Road to Hana, a 64-mile stretch of highway along the coast, connecting Kahului to Hana. While the drive technically only takes three hours, what’s special about it is the number of roadside stops to see waterfalls, buy fresh banana bread, and take dips in the ocean. so plan on spending much more than a few hours on this excursion. While ideally you would stay the night in Hana to maximize your time for pit stops, it is possible to hit some of the highlights in a single day.

Read More
Nature, TravelHannah Schultzmaui, hawaii, hawai'i, road to hana, wai'anapanapa state park, upper waikani falls, hanawi falls, pua'a kaa state wayside park, waterfalls, hana farms, huli huli chicken, rainbow eucalyptus treesComment
São Miguel, The Azores (Day Three): Hot Springs Soaking in Furnas
São Miguel, The Azores (Day Three): Hot Springs Soaking in Furnas

On day three, we took a roadtrip to Furnas, which is the thermal hotspot of the Azores. The town itself is nestled in a dormant volcanic crater that last erupted in 1630. The residual volcanic activity is still present in the form of steaming fumaroles, thermal pools, and natural mineral springs.

Read More
Travel, NatureHannah Schultztravel, travel with me, International travel, sao miguel, portugal, azores, hot springs, furnas, terra nostra park, pocas da dona beija, cozido das furnasComment
São Miguel, The Azores (Day Two): Dophin-Sighting and Snorkeling at Vila Franca Islet
São Miguel, The Azores (Day Two): Dophin-Sighting and Snorkeling at Vila Franca Islet

Our second day on São Miguel, we booked a full-day whale and dolphin watching tour that included a snorkeling excursion to Vila Franca Islet. We booked our tour through Picos de Aventura, and it was a good experience. The tour left from the marina, where we were given heavy-duty raincoats to keep off the cold sea spray. The boat itself was pretty small, so you got hit by a lot of spray. The seats were fairly comfortable on the ride out to the island—you were essentially horseback riding the cushion, with each space for a passenger separated by the seat back. On the way back, my thighs and butt were definitely feeling pretty sore from this position and the up-and-down motion of the choppy waters.

Read More
Travel, NatureHannah Schultzsao miguel, portugal, azores, travel, International travel, dolphin, snorkel, vila franca islet, ponta delgadaComment
Minnesota is Underwater: A Flooded Hike in Minneopa State Park
Minnesota is Underwater: A Flooded Hike in Minneopa State Park

While these warmer spring temperatures are appreciated by everyone, myself included, the extreme temperature swing from a horrifically cold winter to an unseasonably warm (and snowless) March are undeniable effects of global climate change. Every spring hike this season will no doubt be tinged by this undercurrent of fear at the future state of the environment.

Read More
Hiking, NatureHannah Schultzminnesota, hiking, flood, minneopa state park, minneopa falls, waterfall, floodwater, mankato, wetlandComment
Forest & Prairie: A Tranquil Walk Through Linnaeus Arboretum
Forest & Prairie: A Tranquil Walk Through Linnaeus Arboretum

Located in St. Peter, about a twenty minute drive from Mankato, MN, is Gustavus Adolphus College, home to the Linnaeus Arboretum. This botanical wonderland was founded in 1973 by a botany professor at the college, Charles Mason, and his wife, Harriet Mason. The area is unique in that it incorporates all three of the major ecosystems in Minnesota: tall grass prairie, deciduous woods, and coniferous forest, allowing you to observe a wide variety of flora and fauna. With 130 acres, the arboretum gives plenty of room for you to wander, bring a picnic, or read on a bench surrounded by cascading blooms.

Read More
Nature, HikingHannah Schultzdeciduous forest, woods, coniferous, linnaeus, arboretum, st. peter, st peter, minnesota, gustavus aldophus college, rabbit, tallgrass prairie, wetland, preserve, pine, sugar maple, oak, meditation, orchard, borgeson cabin, rose, formal gardenComment
Paradise in St. Paul: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Paradise in St. Paul: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

If you know me, you know there are two places I love going an inordinate amount: zoos and botanical gardens. My love for plants and animals is unsurpassed (I might be trying to turn my apartment into a greenhouse—sorry Kayla). So when I discovered that there was an escape into flora and fauna in St. Paul (Minneapolis' lesser-know twin city) that was both a zoo and a botanical garden—and not only that, it was also free—I just had to go.

Read More
Nature, TravelHannah Schultzst. paul, minnesota, twin cities, como park zoo and conservatory, arctic fox, lion, gorilla, ostrich, sea lion, zebra, giraffe, snow leopard, tiger, polar bear, puffin, orangutan, tamarin, spider monkey, flamingo, marjorie mcneely conservatory, tropic, tropical, fern, sunken garden, botanic garden, Botanical Garden, lilies, lily padsComment
Mountain Views & Hidden Falls in Grand Teton National Park
Mountain Views & Hidden Falls in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is named for Grand Teton, the highest peak in the Teton range. The origins of the name are peculiar, dating back to 19th-century French-speaking trappers, who are said to have called the range les trois tétons, or the three teats, due to their shape. Americans anglicized the spelling and shortened it to Tetons. 

Read More
Nature, Hiking, TravelHannah Schultzgrand teton national park, jackson, wyoming, schwabacher's landing, jenny lake, hidden falls, oxbow bend, ferry, moose, cascade creek, cascade canyon, yellowstone national park, persephone, bakery, french, black bear, glacier, global climate change, global warmingComment
Travel With Me: Yellowstone National Park (Day Four)
Travel With Me: Yellowstone National Park (Day Four)

This first stop isn't really in Yellowstone, but it's a strange sight for those who make the drive from Wapiti or Cody to the East Gate. For some reason it reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle, while Ryan told me it reminded him of the Weasley's house (the Burrow) from Harry Potter. One thing we could all agree on: it was a weird-looking building. 

Read More
Hiking, Nature, TravelHannah Schultzyellowstone national park, day four, house on the hill, Cody, wyoming, east gate, old faithful, upper geyser basin, black sand basin, rainbow pool, emerald pool, sunset lake, lodgepole pines, white, silica, sinter, mystic falls, sapphire pool, black opal, black diamond, shell geyser, jewel geyser, avoca spring, silver globe geyser, little firehole river, midway geyser basin, grand prismatic spring, excelsior geyser, fairy falls, goose lake, firehole lake drive, fountain paint pots, white dome geyser, silex spring, mud puffs, red spouter, yellowstone lake, pelican creekComment
Travel With Me: Yellowstone National Park (Day Three)
Travel With Me: Yellowstone National Park (Day Three)

We passed this turnout every day, as the route from Wapiti and the East Gate into the park took us through Sylvan Pass, which is in the Absaroka Range. This part of the park has one of the higher elevations that you drive through, at 8,524 feet above sea level, so it's naturally chillier, hence why these photos of the Sylvan Lake look like a winter wonderland even though it was in the sixties and seventies in the rest of the park. We saw a lot of cars from California stopped around here to get out and have snowball fights, but after six months of harsh Minnesota winter, I only stopped for the photo op. 

Read More
Hiking, Nature, TravelHannah Schultzsylvan pass, sylvan lake, yellowstone national park, day three, turnout, tower fall, yellowstone river, lost lake loop, hike, hiking, petrified tree, Roosevelt lodge, employee, manager, ranger, trout lake, otter, bison, baby bison, calves, lamar valley, slough creek, wolf den, pups, bear, black bear, cub, mayComment
Travel With Me: Yellowstone National Park (Day Two)
Travel With Me: Yellowstone National Park (Day Two)

Our first stop of the day was to see (besides Old Faithful) one of the most iconic features of Yellowstone: its Grand Canyon and staggering waterfall. Yellowstone River, the longest undammed river in the continental United States, carved this canyon through erosion about 10,000 to 14,000 years ago (making it relatively new in geological terms). The canyon walls are painted in yellows, oranges, and reds from the iron compounds in the rock--as the iron is oxidized, the rocks rust. 

Read More
Hiking, Travel, NatureHannah Schultztravel, with me, yellowstone national park, day two, grand canyon, south rim, artist point, lower falls, point sublime, yellowstone river, north rim, brink of upper falls, lookout point, grand view, west thumb, geyser basin, fishing cone, abyss poolComment