Sunset
A beautiful sunset down by the harbor in Santa Barbara.
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Travel and Photography
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
This is my favorite park in Santa Barbara. It’s perfect for a walk, reading a book, or just relaxing. A Koi pond with turtles is a major draw for the kiddos. The park encompasses an entire city block, and features some of the most beautiful gardens in the city. There is always something blooming, no matter what time of year.
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Beautiful Santa Barbara Gardens
You don’t have to walk far in Santa Barbara before coming across incredible gardens. This is one of my favs.
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Santa Barbara Spring Has Arrived!
Santa Barbara is in full bloom. What a gorgeous day! I am taking total advantage of it, and spending some time at Alice Keck Park.
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Death Valley National Park straddles the California–Nevada border, east of the Sierra Nevada. It’s about 260 miles from Los Angeles, and around 150 miles from Las Vegas.
I was on my way to back to California from Las Vegas, and decided to check out Death Valley National Park. I had wanted to do some photography out there for awhile, but just never got around to it.
This was my first trip to Death Valley National Park, and I couldn’t wait to see it! I only had a few hours to spend there, which was not nearly enough. There is just so much to explore out there. It’s absolutely amazing, and at times quite surreal!
You definitely get the feeling that you are out in the middle of nowhere!
The size of the park is immense, and the landscape incredible. With over 3 million acres of wilderness to explore, more than one visit is a necessity.
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Death Valley’s landscape consists of incredibly, beautiful miles of sand dunes, colorful rocks and canyons, native wildlife and amazing salt flats.
It is the hottest, driest and lowest national park in the United States. Summer temperatures can rise well above 120 F°, and the average rainfall is only around 2 inches per year.
The park’s elevations range from 282 feet below sea level at Badwater Basin, all the way up to 11,049 feet at Telescope peak.
Badwater Basin is one of the most visited locations in Death Valley, and I can see why. The landscape is totally surreal, and made up of vast salt beds. Many people mistake the thick layer of salt covering the ground for snow.
Death Valley National Park is photographer’s dream. It has such a diverse variety of landscapes. The conditions are extreme, the colors intense, and textures are everywhere you look. It’s truly amazing.
Death Valley is open 365 days a year. That however, does not mean all times of the year are advisable.
Summer is considered the off-season at Death Valley National Park. The heat is extreme, and keeps most people away. Fall, winter, and spring are the most popular times to visit. The average temperature in December is 65F°, which is rather pleasant. Just be aware that temperatures can drop below freezing during the winter.
If you are lucky, you may see the wildflowers blooming in the Spring. They need heavy spring rains to bloom, so it’s really hard to plan a visit to see them. Timing is everything! That said, super blooms can occur between March and April.
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