The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited National Park in the park system with over 11 million visitors a year! That is a

With over a week of overcast skies and a chill in the air, I thought it would be suitable to write about fall foliage in the Hakkoda Mountai

Oirase Gorge, located at the base of the Hakkoda Mountains in Japan and within the boundaries of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, has t

Cherry blossoms, known as sakura, are a sure sign of spring. Here in Japan, they are a national treasure and everyone looks forward to hanami, an annual tradition of picnicking in the park under the blossoms. I have been so lucky to be in country the last two springs when the blooms hit peak. The two areas with the largest concentration of cherry trees that are close to me are Hirosaki Castle Park, Hirosaki and Tenshochi Park, Kitakami. Now, both Kitakami and Hirosaki bloom w