Balabanova All Over
#TakeYourTimeOff
Top Posts
Archives
[Beckley, WV / New River Gorge National Park / Hawks Nest State Park, Apr 12, 2025] As forecasted, temps dipped into the mid 30s overnight! It was cold! I decided to spend the morning doing indoor touristy things in Beckley while waiting for the temps to rise in the afternoon. My first stop was the Exhibition Coal Mine. The mine opened about 1889 and operated until 1953, when the property sold to… Read More
[New River Gorge NP, Apr 11, 2025] Two weeks into my trip, I was finally on the way to New River Gorge National Park – my 49th! I knew that spring weather might be tricky, so I allowed myself 3 full days in the park. This seemed like a lot when I planned the trip, but it turned out to be a good call. The forecast called for a cold front to… Read More
Acadia National Park preserves 47,000 acres of rocky shores, woodland forest and granite mountain peaks. It is one of the top 10 most-visited national parks, and for good reason. Visitors can hike the trails, bike the carriage roads, enjoy park features such as blow holes and glacier erratics, or enjoy some time at the beach. How to Get There The closest airport is Bangor, Maine, about 1.5 hours away. For more choices… Read More
[Acadia National Park, Sep 2024] The 27-mile Acadia Park Loop road will present a unique challenge – which stops to make and which to save for later? Many visitors begin their visit to the park with the scenic drive. It helps you get oriented and it is a great introduction to this park’s beauty. Any park loop maps you get your hands on, like the one below I picked up at my… Read More
[Acadia National Park, Sep 23, 2024] For our second day in the park, I had two trails on the docket. I also hoped to make it to Jordan Pond House right as it opened at 11 am so we could have their famous popovers! This was an experience I didn’t want to miss, but it was a headache planning the hikes around that time and location. The two hikes I wanted to… Read More
