virtual hiking

No time to plan a hike
or just too hot?
How about a virtual hike
to the beautiful Smoky Mountains...

start out by a cool stream


slow down, enjoy the colorful mountain laurel


stop and rest at a scenic vista


watch the sun set over the mountains


Let Doug McFalls at Reflections of the Smokies be your virtual guide. Doug hikes these trails daily, living and working atop Mt. LeConte in the lodge. Or visit him in person, take one of the many trails to the top of Mt. LeConte, spend the night or just go for the day. You won't be disappointed!

Or you could go on this virtual video hike with the llama train carrying supplies to the top of Mt. LeConte.

~all photos used with permission, thanks Doug!

virtual travel

No time to take a trip
or go on vacation?
How about a virtual trip
to all places near and far...

like Australia...


The Razorback - "Along Victoria's famous Great Ocean Road, between Lorne and Warrnambool, there is a stretch of coastline known as The Shipwreck Coast..." read more about it here by Alice.

See the wild horses and
ruins of Carnegie's Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, and more beautiful sights here by Sandra.

See the picture postcard shots
taken on a recent trip to Maine by June.

Hit the Barn Quilt Trail

and see how this form of art is done with Suzi who is writing a book documenting the phenomenon of this beautiful countryside palette.


Isn't this better than enduring the boring vacation slide show or home movies!



~all photos used with permission, thanks y'all!

virtual hiker

I am enjoying following the footsteps of local hiker Collin aka Rabid Hiker on her AT thru-hike:

The Wanderings of an Avid Hiker - My journey on the Appalachian Trail

Collin tells a great story of her daily adventures, having already traveled through Georgia and into North Carolina. She tells of the trail angels doing trail magic along the way, daily trail life, minor injuries and detours, the sights and sounds and smells on the trail.

Collin owned the local hiking and backpacking store and I met her last summer when she was offering local hikes every Saturday morning. All of us wannabe hikers would gather at the store and she would send us off on the hike of the day, with a wistful look in her eyes and always calling after us, "wish I could go with you, but I have to watch the store…" Collin sold the store in the winter and decided it was as good a time as any to try and fulfill her dream of hiking the entire trail.

Her blog story began with preparation and a list of everything in her pack. She packed, unpacked, and repacked, trying to eliminate every ounce of unnecessary weight. Then with the trip up Springer Mountain on March 16th, the momentous first day of her adventure began.

It is fun to travel along with Collin, living vicariously. But this virtual hiking has its pros and cons - I get to sleep in my bed every night and have running water and a bathroom, but I don't seem to be losing any weight or getting in shape at all... bummer.


Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. ~Steven Wright

Walking is good for solving problems - it's like the feet are little psychiatrists. ~Terri Guillemets

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-three today and we don't know where the hell she is. ~Ellen DeGeneres

virtual vacations

Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada



Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, Colorado



Kalani Beach, Hawaii


Take a virtual vacation on Webshots, sit back and enjoy the view, it's free!

photo blogs

Seeing Anew

Blue Ridge Blog

Southern Highlands Cam

Shabby~Chic Cat's Gardening Close~ups!

Fragments from Floyd

Life in Westcliffe

It's all about the pictures!

Thanks to bloggers who post great pictures, it is like sitting on the couch and looking through a virtual photo album.