As national parks go, Yosemite is the crown jewel. And Yosemite Valley is star in the middle of the crown. A narrow inlet into the high Sierras, the place looks majestic and ancient. But although the stone monoliths are a…
Day Tripping with Rick – Kona, Hawaii – Going South
Of all the family trips you can take, you’d be hard pressed to beat the Big Island. And Big it is. Larger in area than Rhode Island, the Big Island boasts of more to see and do than all the…
Day Tripping with Rick – St. George, Utah – Zion National Park
Nobody ever says, “Hey, let’s go to St. George on vacation this year!” While not exactly a destination in its own right, St. George is the perfect starting place for some of my favorite day trips. This…
Day Tripping with Rick – San Diego
Nuclear engineers are a small club. Our technical society, the American Nuclear Society (ANS) has two big meetings per year. The winter meeting is usually held in Washington DC, and the summer meeting is held at a variety of pretty…
Day Tripping with Rick – Bryce Canyon National Park
Our last day in southwest Utah is the best of the lot, a trip to Bryce Canyon National Park. National parks are like the story of Goldilocks. Most, like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are way too big for a…