From years of travel, here are my favorite city/town vistas from the western half of the United States. Blessed with many mountain chains and varied topography, numerous places in the American West can be observed and appreciated from a higher elevation.
Aside from listing the city or town, the names of the peaks and vista(s) are also provided. Nearly all of these were hiked, while some can also be reached by motor vehicle. As other city/town vistas are seen over time across the American West, the favorites will be added to this list. Peace and enjoy!
TOWNS
Manitou Springs, Colorado from hiking Iron Mountain
Durango, Colorado from hiking Smelter Mountain
Salida, Colorado from hiking S Mountain
Tonopah, Nevada from hiking Oddie Mountain
Bisbee, Arizona from hiking the Bisbee 1000 Great Stair Climb route
Silver City, New Mexico from hiking Boston Hill Open Space
Green Mountain Falls, Colorado from hiking Mount Dewey
CITIES
El Paso, Texas from walking to the Scenic Drive overlook at Murchison Rogers Park
Colorado Springs, Colorado from hiking Iron Mountain, Mt. Cutler, to Inspiration Point at Seven Falls, or hiking/driving/riding cog train up Pikes Peak. This view is from Inspiration Point.
San Diego, California from driving/hiking to Old Point Loma Lighthouse
Los Angeles, California from hiking Griffith Observatory Hill and Mt. Hollywood
San Francisco, California from hiking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge
Tucson, Arizona from hiking or driving to Sentinel A Mountain
Albuquerque, New Mexico from hiking or driving to Sandia Crest or from hiking Petroglyphs National Monument. This view is from Sandia Crest.
Santa Fe, New Mexico from hiking Sun or Moon Mountains or other peaks on the Dale Ball Trails network
Carson City, Nevada from hiking C Hill
Glendale, California from hiking Mt. Hollywood
Las Cruces, New Mexico from hiking Tortugas Mountain
Phoenix, Arizona from hiking South Mountain
#cities #fun #geography #hiking #history #landUse #mountains #overlooks #planning #scenery #tourism #towns #trails #travel #vistas #walking #West
Rocky point, Beaver Pond, White Memorial Foundation, Morris, Connecticut. October 24, 2024, 4:03 PM.
26
Good day!
Ill walk today, but have to wait two hours for enough daylight.
Ive discovered that mixing editing on one book with preparing a different one for publication keeps me sane.
Stifling creativity was making me edgy & melancholy.
Always self-scan.
Be everwell.
25
Good day!
*I call this Gray.
Missing the trail, Im determined to hike at least once/month through winter.
Updated financials with Amazon yesterday.
Getting closer!
A walk after sunrise. Ill review the front & back matter. Also fixing last years novel to stay sane.
Be everwell.
York River State Park
Pine framed autumn view, Giant's Left Knee, Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 16, 2024, 3:46 PM.
Summery September evening stillness, Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott, Connecticut. September 18, 2021, 7:10 PM.
24
Good day!
*Beaver pond.
Were dipping below freezing most nights now.
Ill walk in a few hours when theres enough light. Then, Ill take another look at my publishing steps when Im not so overwhelmed.
Anxiety needs to go somewhere else.
Be everwell.
Lake Wintergreen, West Rock State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 21, 2024, 3:02 PM.
Pine trees reflected in Beaver Pond (its official name, capital B capital P), White Memorial Foundation, Morris, Connecticut. December 13, 2021
protagonists ranked in order of my favourite
1. Estelle Bright (Liberl arc)
2. Van Arkride (Calvary arc)
3. Lloyd Bannings (Crossbell arc)
4. Rean Schwarzer (Erebonia arc)
TIL that there is a subgenre of speculative fiction called which Wikipedia defines as featuring about characters fighting for positive change, radical kindness, and communal responses to challenges.
The first thing that came to mind was the games. They fit that definition perfectly
23
Good day!
The air is cool & crisp these days, our highs around 50F/10C or so. I love it.
A regular day. After sunrise, Ill walk. Im ahead on blog posts & need to take a look at the Amazon uploading process. I have all my pieces parts for formatting.
Be everwell.
Lake Dawson and the West River Valley from West Rock Ridge State Park, Woodbridge, Connecticut. October 21, 2024, 2:26 PM.
22
Good day!
I did a lot of reading yesterday (I couldnt put the book down).
Its time to begin the books final stages. This is all new so theres always the sense that Im missing something.
Im not going to dwell on that.
Thats veiled worrying.
Be everwell.
Delicate pastels summer sunset, Scoville Reservoir, Wolcott, Connecticut. July 8, 2020, 8:45 PM.
Winter's last stand, Finch Brook Preserve, Wolcott, Connecticut. March 23, 2020, 6:08 PM.
Blomidon's Evangeline Beach - Bay of Fundy has highest tides in Good hiking there
21
Good day!
Yesterdays hike turned into an all-day affair. I didnt want to leave.
*The trailhead view! As Id soon learn, this was nothing.
Ill walk after sunrise, continue wading through all the photos, & work on the book. Im tired, but energized.
Be everwell.
Juna from the series really changed after graduating, tho!
Trade Halloween chills for summer vibes! Discover the hidden gem of Coquille Point National Wildlife Refuge in Bandon, Oregon. Our hike was a perfect escape from the ordinary.
Trail Name: Coquille Point National Wildlife Refuge
Trail Hiking Time: 20 - 30 Minutes
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Journey To And Tour Of Coquille Point National Wildlife Refuge
Bonus fire tower today. Turned out my nearby Craney Hill fire tower was open to the public this weekend, so I had to run up and grab some photos in this stunning weather.
I updated my previous article with better trails, descriptions and photos:
Autumn forest glade, Giant's Chest, Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 8, 2024, 1:28 PM.
20
Good day!
This is it. This is the day.
Im about to do the hike Ive waited years to do.
One problem after another arose: others cancelling, illness, car problems, smoke, & more.
Not this time.
Im going to Blodgett Canyon solo & its going to be glorious.
No more waiting.
Be everwell.
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
TrailsHiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Hiking Casteldefels - Puig den Vinyals - Garraf Train
Coming out onto the cliff walk, Giant's Right Knee, Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 16, 2024, 2:52 PM.
Very big rock and dead stump. Mad River ravine north of Peterson Memorial Park, Wolcott, Connecticut. August 2, 2020, 7:15 PM.
A few pictures from our cabin trip at Hocking Hills last week of Rock House trail, Old Man's Cave and Conkles Hollow.
19
Good day!
I voted yesterday & resolved my drug coverage for 2025.
If all goes well, Ill hike tomorrow before the rain arrives on Monday.
In-between, I at last can focus fully on the book, working on descriptions & blurbs. Im also ahead on blog posts.
Be everwell.
Found this little gem of an video: "Why I Spent 1000 Hours On This JRPG Series (The Legend of Heroes: Trails Series)" and oh my does it speak to me.
I'm obsessed now about this series!
KISEKIIIIII!!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous October sky, Giant's Chest, Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden, Connecticut. October 8, 2024, October 8, 2024, 1:16 PM.
5 Mount Washington, NH
8 to 9 miles Hard Cos County NH
We picked perfect conditions to hike the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail up the Northeast's tallest peak. Alt text in the article.