fall hike | find beauty friday

On Sunday, the husband and I went on a small hike through our favorite park.  With our 60 degrees days numbered we decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm October day.  

Unfortunately, I think my posts of the beautiful Fall foliage is also numbered.   Until next year, these posts will have to hold me over.  

Where are your favorite places to hike?

What about where do you go to capture the colorful Fall foliage?

Linking up with Aimee today!

cook forest, pa | travel tuesday

In August, the husband and I, along with another couple, went back up to Cook Forest, PA.  This time for the Wine Fest in the Forest.  Instead of camping though, we stayed at the Inn at Cook Forest, right on the Clarion River.   We have never stayed at a B&B before so we didn't have high expectations.  I mean, I was just happy to have a bed to sleep on instead of a crash pad and sleeping bag.  But for the price we paid - I think around $115 - I would have rather taken the crash pad and sleeping bag. 

 I won't go into too much detail - because believe me I could write an entire post dedicated to our experience - but the rooms were outdated, poor communication with the innkeeper, freezer burned-tasting hash browns for breakfast, and the topping on the cake was when the inn keeper got into a heated argument with a customer in front of everyone and then kept talking about to the other customers.  Extremely unprofessional.  So, take my word for it, if you are ever staying the night in Cook Forest, find a cabin on one of the many camp grounds to stay in.  

^I mean look at it.  Looks like it is straight out of the The Shining.  

Anyway, not far from where we stayed is the Old Growth Forest so to get some fresh air and the blood pumping before the wine festival, we headed out for a hike among the beautiful trees.  I lent my camera to my friend to practice because she is thinking of buying a DSLR so I did not get too many photos from the hike.  The trees in The Old Growth Forest range anywhere from 280 and 350 years old.  Pretty amazing to think these trees have been around for as long as they have.  Definitely not as cool as the California Redwoods, but pretty cool for Western Pennsylvania.  

^color

^black and white

After our hike, we headed back to the inn to get dressed then headed to the wine festival.  Since I knew a lot of wine was going to be had I left my "big camera" in our room and only came away with a few photos of the actual wine festival on my phone.  Even though the venue where all of the wineries were pouring the tastings was small and seemed really cramped from all of the people, I wasn't bothered.  But I am pretty sure the wine that had a lot to do with that;).  We each bought a few bottles of wine, grabbed some dinner, then opened a bottle while we chatted over a bonfire in the backyard of the inn.  For August, the weather was chilly so the bonfire was perfect. 

The next morning I was up before everyone else so I headed downstairs, grabbed a coffee and headed outside to get a few photos of the morning fog cover.  We did not think we would have a good day but the Sun did come out for our 4 mile canoe along the Clarion.  

^the blue skies peaking through the fog. 

^The Pale Whale, where we rented canoes both times we have been up there. 

^lalala just around the riverbend 

On the way home we stopped at North Country Brewery in Slippery Rock for lunch and some beers/cider before heading home.  Besides the inn and the awkward innkeeper, our weekend was well spent up in Cook Forest.  The husband and I both really like it up there.  I still cannot believe it took us this long to make a trip to this area.  We will definitely be back, if not this Winter to rent out cabins, but next Summer. 

What has your B&B experience been like?

Or are you more of a camper?

Have you ever been to a wine festival?

Did you discover any new places to explore this year?

Linking up with Bonnie and Tiffany today!

close-up | find beauty friday

I have been struggling with accepting the upcoming weather change since July.  Every year I wonder how am I going to survive yet another Winter.  And after last Winter, I am really dreading this one.  BUT I have to keep reminding myself that I still have a few weeks left of warm-ish temps before it even gets to the unbearable, hurts to breath cold that is always inevitable in the NW.  These flowers in my mother-in-law's garden certainly helped brighten my mood over the weekend and reminded me that there are still few weeks left of great weather.  

Other posts from flowers in my MIL's garden: here and here

Are you looking forward to the change of season?

What are some of your favorite moments you captured this week?

Linking up with Aimee today!

new river gorge, wv | travel tuesday

 Check out for our Airbnb was 9 so we got an early start to the day for the trip back.  We knew we wanted to break up the trip on the way back so we chose to stop at a good halfway point - New River Gorge, WV.  

We first fell in love with New River Gorge in 2008 when we rafted the New River and Gully with friends.  We have visited a few times since but have never made the commitment to spend more than a few hours there.  It's only a 3.5 hour drive for us so it would be a perfect weekend getaway.  Perhaps next year.  

Anyway, we stopped at Subway for lunch then decided to take a little hike to the edge of the cliffs to stretch our legs and get the blood pumping before the last 3 to 4 hours home.

Every year, tens of thousands of extreme sport enthusiasts gather from around the world to watch people BASE jump from the 876 foot tall New River Gorge Bridge.  The event is called Bridge Day and is held every October.

^view from the drive the under the bridge.

I am not a huge fan of heights, especially open heights, so getting too close to the edge makes me extremely nervous.  However the views from the top are stunning so embracing my fear is the only way to capture the views that I did.

^views of the New River from above

^Boy am I going to miss the brilliant green in a few months.

Husband and I are already talking about returning to Asheville one day.  Heck, we wouldn't even hate to live there.  When we do return, I want to explore more of the trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.  I loved exploring the city of Asheville, but in nature is where I belong.  

Do you have a favorite place you like to stop during road trips?

Have you ever been to New River Gorge?

What about West Virginia?

Linking up with Bonnie, Nicki, Tori, and Tiffany today!

swimming, camping, and canoeing oh my

The weekend before last, the husband and I got away again for the night and spent time in Cook Forest for the first time.  I am not sure about him, but I think it may be my new favorite camping area.  

We got a bit of a later start to our day than we wanted but we took full advantage of the time we had once we arrived.  After picking our camping spot, which we both thought was a little bit too central for our taste, we headed to the pool for a little sun and reading.  The pool was horribly cold so all I did was dip my feet in.   But since it wasn't too hot it was the perfect first pool day of 2014.  

Since I failed to make a list, I am usually a list maker, I forgot my tennis shoes (and would have forgotten our tent, sleeping pads, and sleeping bags if the husband hadn't remembered) so we weren't able to hike but we did take a little walk around the grounds just to get a feel for the place.  There were so many options of places to camp so we hope to reserve those spots ahead of time the next time we plan on visiting. 

As goes with being in nature, I did not have any cell service, so we listened to the Pirate's game on the radio.  Even though you may not be able to tell from the photo below, the husband was pretty happy about it. 

^^not far from our campsite.  too close to everything and everyone else. 

After the game was over, we started the fire, grilled some hot dogs, and drank some gin and sodas until it was time to turn in for the night. 

^morning sun

After getting our tent all packed away we headed for a good ole fashioned country breakfast at Farmer's Inn not even a mile down the road.  Just what we needed after a night of camping.  

After breakfast we decided, since I forgot my shoes, to rent a canoe and canoe 4 miles down the Clarion River.  It was probably my favorite part of our 24 hours spent there.  If you can't tell from the photos,  I didn't do much of the rowing.  Just took photos. 

We pulled the canoe off the river just in time for the clouds to form and the rain to begin.  We had hoped to walk through the old growth section of the park but decided to head back since the rain didn't seem to be letting up anytime soon.  Next time, Cook Forest, next time.  

All of the photos above were taken with my iPhone5 and edited in Afterlight using the Hollow filter.  I am very pleased how well they turned out since they only came from my phone.  Technology these days, I tell ya.  And I used to think the iPhone3 camera was good.. 

Are you a camper?

Do you use your phone for photos a lot?

If so, do you have a favorite photo editing app?

Linking up with Rekita and Nicole today!

6 miles

A week and a half ago, the husband and I set out on a 6 mile hike through McConnell Mill.  This was our second trip there this year.  It such an easy and quick escape to nature that I am sure we will be visiting at least 3 more times before it gets cold again.  Although, I might have to head up there in the snow for a Winter hike because I know it would be just as beautiful.  Anyway, here are the rest of my photos I took while on our 6 mile hike.  I never realized how big the park was until this day.  We hope to explore the next half the trail on our next adventure.  

^I am not sure if it is just me but I always have such an inner struggle with wanting to just take it all in or taking a photo.  As we drove past a giant field of these wildflowers and I found myself fighting those conflicting thoughts.  As we turned the bend and passed the field, I shouted asked for the husband to stop so I could photograph them.  Lucky for me, I have a very patient husband (even though he threatens me with "no camera" hikes).  

^Look familiar?  Even more beautiful surrounded by all of the green. 

^I liked the spider webs.

^I was surprised how high we were once we got to the top.  

^half way point. 

^a little friend that startled me as he crossed our path.

^inside the covered bridge.  

Our butts were definitely kicked after the hike.  It pretty much took us all week to recover.  I forget how far 6 miles really is and how much hiking up hills will take out of you.  We had better build up if we ever hope to walk across the country one day:)

Do you have a favorite photo?

Do you have a hard time knowing when to take it all in or documenting it with a photo?

Where do you go to escape city life?

Linking up with Shanna and Rachel today!