Adventure

Growth and renewal through adventure and the call of the wild.

The Resurrection of Luna Luna, the Innovative Art Amusement Park

December 27, 2023 Adventure

The story behind the Luna Luna amusement park is almost too good to be true. After its celebrated opening in the 1980s, the amusement park featuring works by renowned visual artists all but disappeared until recently. Luna Luna was the brainchild of Austrian multimedia artist André Heller. Envisioned as the world’s first art amusement park, it brought together the talents of several prominent artists. Each artist was tasked with designing a ride or attraction, resulting in a park that wasRead More

Journey to the North: Exciting Adventures in Finland

November 26, 2023 Adventure

We just returned from an exciting and informative trip to Finland. My primary purpose for the trip was to attend the 2023 International Directors Forum on Science Engagement, organized by the European Network of Science Centres and Museums (Ecsite). The convening, hosted at Heureka in the Helsinki suburb of Vantaa, was attended by over 100 leaders of science institutions from six continents. Over three days, we collectively explored two pressing issues impacting our collective work: misinformation and the triple planetaryRead More

A Strenuous Ascent to the Summit of Whiteface & Esther Mountains

June 30, 2023 Adventure

Pursuing the ADK46 offers a unique set of challenges and rewards. Interestingly, these challenges and rewards often mirror each other. These mountains truly test both the body and the mind. Even though their elevation might not seem particularly high compared to the mountains out west, they nonetheless pose considerable challenges. The Adirondacks are exceptionally rugged, marked by steep pitches, muddy trails, and boulder-filled inclines. Introduce wet conditions to this mix, and these trails can quickly become treacherous. I was remindedRead More

Original Glamping: A Visit to Great Camp Sagamore

June 27, 2023 Adventure

My annual trip to the Adirondacks in upstate New York has become a cherished tradition. Currently, I am endeavoring to conquer the 46 High Peaks—a challenging quest given our home base in Michigan. Nonetheless, this ongoing mission affords us the chance to delve into the vastness of Adirondack State Park, which astoundingly exceeds the combined size of Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks. During this trip, we decided to indulge in a historical experience by spending a coupleRead More

Pedaling through History: A 335-Mile Bike Odyssey from Pittsburgh to D.C. via the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal

June 20, 2023 Adventure

I recently completed a 335-mile journey by bicycle from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. along the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath.

Deseret News Marathon

July 25, 2022 Adventure

On Saturday, July 23, I completed my third marathon of the year by running the Deseret News Marathon in Salt Lake City. According to the race organizers, “the Deseret News Marathon is the oldest road race in Utah and the 4th oldest marathon west of the continental divide.” Further, the marathon celebrates Utah’s unique cultural heritage. The route for this small race begins on Big Mountain (approximately 7,420 feet in elevation), descends around 3,200 feet through Emigration Canyon, and endsRead More

The 2022 Go! St. Louis Marathon

April 9, 2022 Adventure

On Sunday, April 3, I successfully completed the 2022 Go! St. Louis Marathon. In addition to being my second marathon of the year, this event marked an important milestone. In 2020, I planned to run the Go! St. Louis Marathon, but it ultimately got canceled due to the onset of the pandemic. After two years, the marathon returned to its pre-pandemic scope. Unlike the marathon in Atlanta, the weather was near perfect. Temperatures hovered between the high 30s at theRead More

The 2022 Atlanta Marathon

March 7, 2022 Adventure

On February 27, I successfully completed the 2022 Atlanta Marathon. Officially titled the Public Atlanta Marathon, the event was my first organized race since the start of the pandemic, and my sixth marathon in the 50 States Challenge. In a nutshell, it was a beast! The marathon began and ended in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. It was a relatively scenic course, which passed by the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Freedom Park, through Piedmont Park, andRead More

Vivid Fall Colors in the Western Upper Peninsula

October 10, 2021 Adventure

The fall tree foliage was especially vibrant and colorful during our recent visit to the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We made a quick jaunt to the UP the first weekend in October to view nature’s magnificence. Despite some rain, the temperatures were unseasonably warm and the fall colors were near peak. Much of our time was spent in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and the Keweenaw Peninsula. While this trip was primarily to view and photograph fall colors, weRead More

Touring the Ohio to Erie Trail

June 27, 2021 Adventure

From June 22 to June 26, 2021, I made a five-day journey bicycling across the state of Ohio along the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET). I opted to travel south to north, beginning in Cincinnati and finishing in Cleveland. It was a rewarding way to see the state of Ohio while celebrating my 45th birthday. Day One: Tuesday, June 22 I began my ride on Tuesday in Cincinnati. My wife Dharma provided support since she could not join me onRead More