Author: marklongmainstream (Page 112 of 174)

Nebraska’s Amazing Locations

October 19, 2021 / marklongmainstream

Smith Falls State Park

For more information, click here.

Fort Robinson State Park

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Steve Schlueter Photography

Indian Cave State Park

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Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Pine Ridge National Recreation Area

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Tub’s Pub

Snake River Falls

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Ann White Dieckgrafe

Scotts Bluff National Monument

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Brian Poffenberger-NPS

Toadstool Geologic Park

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Photo credit: Kendra Carper

Wildcat Hills State Recreation and Nature Center

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Visit Nebraska

Stair Step Falls

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John Coffey

Berry Falls

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This picture is owned by Brian Peterson

Indiana’s Amazing Locations

October 18, 2021 / marklongmainstream

Turkey Run State Park

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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

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Sandquads/TripAdvisor

Fort Harrison State Park

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Cataract Falls

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Cataract Falls Facebook Page

Clifty Falls State Park

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McCormick’s Creek State Park

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Hoosier National Forest

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Indiana Proud

Shades State Park

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Visiting This State Park Is Like Entering Another World

October 18, 2021 / marklongmainstream

This beautiful state park is one of the most popular in the entire state. Located in Jackson County, sitting just Northwest of Maquoketa. The park rests on more then 360 acres of rough, hilly terrain. In 1991, 111 acres on the east side of the park became listed as a historic district. Maquoketa Caves State Park has more caves then any other park in the state. The trail system, offers a beautiful hike, that links together the caves, rock formations, and scenic overlooks. Maquoketa Caves State Park is located at 9688 Caves Rd, in Maquoketa, Iowa. For more information, click here.

White settlers discovered the cave’s in 1834, after 2 hunters tracking a deer stumbled upon the dance hall cave. Over the years various artifacts such as pottery, tools and arrowheads made of stone, have been found in and around the park. This indicates that the caves have been visited by humans for hundreds maybe thousands of years.

The park features 16 accessible caves, which offer great caving for experienced and inexperienced cavers alike. The hiking trails are just over 6 miles in length, and are a great way to see the park. There is also a campground with 29 campsites, 17 of which have electrical hookups.

Eric Hanson KCCI

Don’t Miss: The dance hall cave,is the largest cave in the park. Checking in at over 1000 feet in length, this cave is partially developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and has a paved walkway, along with a lighting system. For the more adventurous park visitors, be sure to check out the Wye Cave, for some of the best spelunking in Iowa.

Jason Sydejko KCCI

Logistic’s: Located Northwest of Maquoketa Iowa, from Highway 61, take Y31 west till you turn right onto 98th street, follow the winding road into Maquoketa Caves State Park.

Best Time: From Memorial Day to Labor Day the park is pretty busy. I suggest visiting during a weekday to avoid the crowds.

Pit Stop: After all that hiking, your sure to have worked up an appetite. Swing into Bluff Lake Catfish Pond for a delicious home cooked meal. This charming restaurant sits on the waters edge, nestled between a dense forest and a beautiful rock bluff. Time your trip right and you might catch a 25 foot waterfall flowing over the bluff into the lake as you enjoy your meal.

Travel Smart: You are hiking and spelunking so comfortable shoes are a must. This is a trip in which you might get a little muddy, so bringing a change of clothing may be a good idea. In addition to clothing, you will want to pack cool drinking water, bug spray, sunscreen, and most importantly flashlights.

Travel Iowa

For more of Iowa’s Parks and Amazing Locations, click here. For the best nearby lodging and campgrounds, click here. For the best family activities, click here.

These Glass-Domed Cabins Let You Watch the Northern Lights in Bed

October 18, 2021 / marklongmainstream

Travel is still limited, at best, and probably involves a lot more daydreaming than actually traveling at this point. But if you’re a planner, Off the Map Travel has a new escape that might subdue a couple of years of bottled-up wanderlust.

PHOTO BY TUNDREA, COURTESY OF OFF THE MAP TRAVEL

The trip involves a stay in new glass igloo cabins located in Kilpisjärvi, Finland. They are part of a travel package from Off the Map that includes two different cabins with glass roofs for your northern lights viewing experience. They’re part of the travel company’s “Stars of Scandinavia” experience, which shuttles you around Lapland with plenty of opportunities for stargazing and aurora hunting.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TUNDREA

Not only are the Wau House Igloo cabins stunning, but they’re genuinely useful in trying to catch the bucket list display. “The northern lights are magical, but you never know when they will appear, so we wanted to give our guests the best chance and not miss a second of the action with this new travel experience,” says Founder of Off the Map Travel Jonny Cooper. The outdoor lighting is even red to ensure that stargazers don’t have their night vision negatively impacted.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TUNDREA

The next leg of the experience takes guests south to Rovaniemi and the glass-roofed Lappish Kammi Suites. You’ll also get a feel for the region with husky sledding, a fat bike tour, snowmobile treks, and opportunities to learn about Sami culture in the package. The trip isn’t on the house, though. The six-day, five-night package costs £1795 per person (about $2,078) and does not include flights. It does, however, provide the potential to check something off your bucket list.