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Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, Tennessee

Ranked as one of Knoxville, Tennessee’s top attractions, I was looking forward to checking out Ijams Nature Center for the morning before traveling down to Gatlinburg for the week.  Having visited the website, I noticed the museum had won several awards and was ranked as a top destination.  I wanted to hike the River Trail along the Tennessee River for its scenic views and bird watching and then stroll through the nature center to learn more about the surrounding area.

The exhibits were extremely informative and centered around the ecology of the Tennessee River.  I learned that the river was home to over 230 species of fish, 100 types of mussels and the Cherokee Indians before the British began to build settlements here in the 1700s.

Stuffed taxidermy animals were strategically placed throughout the wildlife displays of trees and small ponds.  Shallow pools held turtles and local fish which can be found within the river.

I was most impressed with the life-like paintings of Dr. Earl O. Henry, dating back to the late 1940s.  Dr. Henry began his interest in birds when he was a young boy, imitating their songs.  He was an active member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society that was founded by H.P. Ijams for whom the center is named.  After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Dr. Henry returned to Knoxville and began to embrace his talent for painting the local birds.

Harry Pearl Ijams helped form the Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society.  An enthusiastic outdoorsman, H.P., as he was known by friends, purchased 20 acres where he set up the Ijams Bird Sanctuary to monitor the various species and study their habits. H.P. would later be regarded as the “Father of Knoxville Ornithology”.

It was a wonderful experience visiting the Ijams Nature Center, learning about the Knoxville wildlife and the men and women who were instrumental in protecting them.

Have you visited the Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, Tennessee?  What were your thoughts?  I would be interested in hearing about your time spent at the exhibit if you would kindly leave a  message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my time spent at Ijams and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Ijam’s Nature Center
2915 Island Home Avenue
Knoxville, TN  37920
Telephone:  865 577 4717

Where to Stay:

Four Points Sheraton Knoxville Cumberland House
1109 White Avenue
Knoxville, TN  37916
Telephone:   865 971 4663

Where to Eat:

Babalu
412 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, TN  37902
Telephone:  865 329 1002

What to Eat in Knoxville:

  • Brunch at Bistro on the Bayou
  • Chicken pot pie
  • Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Mac and Cheese
  • Meatloaf
  • Tennessee Whiskey

What to Read:

  • Historic Knoxville: The Curious Visitor’s Guide to Its Stories and Places, by Jack Neely

Photo Guide to Knoxville: 

  • Bike Sculpture
  • Bridge Sunrise
  • CityView Sunset from SoKno
  • Fort Dickerson Quarry
  • Gay Street
  • Greetings from Knoxville Postcard Mural
  • House Mountain
  • Sunsphere
  • Tennessee Theater on the corner of Gay Street and Clinch Avenue
  • A View from the Bluffs

Inside Ijams Nature Center

Ijams Nature Center

A First Impression of Yellowstone National Park

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The sky was a bountiful blue and the air smelled fresh and pure.  The drive from Cody to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park took only about an hour, but there were a couple of stops in between.  The sun was just rising as I passed through tunnels, taking in the hills, trees and streams of the countryside.  It was a perfect day to explore Yellowstone and I was thrilled beyond measure for the adventure ahead.

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As the entrance sign came into view, I couldn’t believe I had finally arrived. I was excited to take my place in line with fellow travelers for my first photograph of America’s First National Park, Yellowstone.  Forging on, I was prepared for my first stop at the  Fishing Bridge, when I noticed the beauty of Sylvan Lake as I  pulled over to the side of the road to map out my day.  Yellowstone Lake was not far in the distance and soon I would be exploring one of the most amazing national parks in the United States.  With its vast geological features and abundant animal sightings, this trip was sure to provide endless memories in the making.

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Known as the “largest high-altitude lake in North America”, Yellowstone Lake measures 136 square miles.  Because the southern road of the park was closed for the season, I had to drive north towards Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. Just inside LaHardy, I saw my first large bull elk wandering through the brush on the side of the road.

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The pungent scent of rotting eggs, caused by the sulper springs, filled the air, far in advance of my approach to Mud Volcano.  The bubbling mud pots, considered one of the most unstable properties within the park, was proof of the park’s volcanic power.  With names such as Dragon’s Mouth Spring or Sulphur Cauldron, the 2.3 mile boardwalk winds through several active thermal features.   It was a reminder that I was standing on a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

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Looking forward to reaching the park’s most impressive waterfall, I passed through Hayden Valley.  I stopped at several lookouts for wildlife as well as random falls throughout the park when I had finally reached the Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  It was a breathtaking scene as the cascade, with its 308 foot precipice, could be heard long before reaching the overlook.

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I arrived at a split in the road, with one leading to the North Rim and the other to the South.  I had decided to hike Uncle Tom’s Trail for a closer look at the Upper Falls as well as Crystal Falls, plummeting 129 feet.  Since the late 1800s, visitors to Yellowstone have made this trek with help from Tom Richardson, independent tour guide.  As a part of his full day excursion, the rim of the falls included a “trail of wooden ladders and handrails to the mist of Lower Falls”.  Today a metal staircase with 329 steps has replaced the ladders that once led to the lookout.

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I stood at the overlook for several minutes admiring the mesmerizing beauty of the cascades.  The water violently flowed beneath into the canyon.  While this was the first excursion I had taken within the park, I realized I had not even begun to explore Yellowstone.  This amazing national park offers so many opportunities to see nature in its own habitat, from geysers, waterfalls, wildlife and wonder.

Have you had the opportunity to travel to Yellowstone National Park?  What were some of your favorite sites that you explored?  I would love to hear from you if you will kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading my post about Yellowstone and Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Yellowstone National Park
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Telephone:  307 344 7381

  • Admission Fee:   Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry.  Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle:  $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20  which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc.    An annual Pass for Yellowstone National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Yellowstone National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase.  Check out their website for more information:  https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
  • Hours:  Open daily, 24 hours;  Refer to the Yellowstone National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
  • Amenities:  camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding and llama packing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
  • Scenic View:  Take in the view of Grand Prismatic Spring from the Overlook off of the Fairy Falls Trailhead.  For the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, you can see this beautiful waterfall from several locations offering different views of the falls:  Brink of Lower Falls, Lookout Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail and Artist Point. Check out the stadium seating at Old Faithful for a front row seat of this geyser that erupts every 35 to 120 minutes.  The park’s Twitter account, @GeyserNPS, the Geyser Activity Page on their website or the Geyser App lists the predicted times for Old Faithful.
  • Length of Visit:  Three days is recommended to see all of the attractions at Yellowstone.
  • Tips for Your Visit:  The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate.   Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies.  When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park.  For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Summer is the busiest time for the park you may find road construction and traffic.

Where to Stay:

I was fortunate enough to stay at one of the lodges at Yellowstone.  I absolutely loved staying at the park and have Melba Coleman to thank for assisting me in my reservation.

Where to Eat:

Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
Yellowstone Park, WY  82190
Telephone:  307 344 7311

For a light lunch, I ordered the charcuterie plate which included meats, cheeses, olives, walnuts and whole grain crackers.  It was the perfect location to enjoy the park sitting by a large viewing window, mesmerized by the spectacular view.

What to Eat: 

  • Bison Burgers
  • Buffalo Steak
  • Chicken Fried Steak
  • Chuck Wagon-Style Dinners which usually include hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans and corn bread
  • Cowboy Cookies:  cookies made with brown sugar, cinnamon, oats, chocolate and nuts
  • Elk Steak
  • Fry Bread is similar to puff pastry and is the base for taco salads.
  • Jerky
  • Morels
  • Old Fashioned Soda
  • Pig Candy:  Applewood smoked bacon covered in brown sugar and spices
  • Prime Rib
  • Rocky Mountain Oysters:  deep-fried calf testicles
  • Soda Bread:  Discovered by American Indians, this bread is made from a mixture of flour and soda (naturally found in wood ashes) creating a quick-rising bread
  • Trout
  • Wyomatoes are a type of tomato found in Wyoming. Known for their sweet taste, they are unlike any other varietal
  • Wyoming Whiskey

What to Read: 

  • The Stories of Yellowstone, by Mark M. Miller
  • Mountain Spirit, by Lawrence L. Loendorf
  • Decade of the Wolf, by Douglas Smith
  • Bring Jade Home, by Michelle Caffrey
  • Letters from Yellowstone, by Diane Smith
  • Yellowstone Has Teeth, by Marjane Ambler
  • Dangerous Beauty:  Encounters with Grizzlies and Bison in Yellowstone, by Carolyn Jourdan
  • Death in Yellowstone by Lee H. Whittlesey
  • Empire of Shadows, by George Black

Photo Guide for Yellowstone: 

  • Artist Point
  • Artists Paintpots
  • Black Pool
  • Brink of the Lower Falls
  • Dunanda Falls
  • Dunraven Pass
  • Excelsior Geyser Crater
  • Fairy Falls
  • Firehole Falls
  • Firehole Lake
  • Fountain Paint Pots Trail
  • Grand Prismatic Spring
  • Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
  • Great Fountain Geyser
  • Hayden Valley
  • Inspiration Point
  • Lamar Valley
  • Lewis Falls
  • Lookout Point
  • Lower Lookout Point
  • Madison River
  • Mammoth Hot Springs
  • Minerva Terrace
  • Morning Glory Pool
  • Norris Geyser Basin
  • Old Faithful
  • Point Sublime
  • Roaring Mountain
  • Roosevelt Arch
  • Snake River Overlook
  • Tower Falls
  • Trout Lake
  • Upper Falls View
  • West Thumb Basin
  • Yelloowstone Entrance Sign
  • Yellowstone Lake

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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A Bull Elk Near Hardy Falls

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Dragon’s Mouth Spring

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Bison in the Distance at Yellowstone National Park

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The Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

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Crystal Falls at Yellowstone

Springtime in Sharon Woods, Metro Park, Columbus

It was a beautiful weekend and my mother had come to meet me in Columbus for a visit.  I told her about the great wildlife that I had been seeing lately at Sharon Woods and she wanted to come along to see it for herself.  We are both nature lovers, so it only made sense that we should wake up before sunrise and head out for an early morning walk along one of the paved trails at the park.

Close up of Deer - Sharon Woods

It was a foggy morning and just as we were pulling into the Sharon Woods, we noticed a deer and her fawn to our right.  They were so close to our car and did not seem to mind, so I thought I would exit my car and take a couple of photos.  Slowly inching closer for the perfect shot, it was then that the mother gave me a hearty snort and a signal from her hoof warning me to keep my distance.  Realizing that she was not too pleased, I returned to my car hoping that I had taken some great pics.

Butterfly in a Tree

Within minutes, the fog was lifting and we managed to stay on point with our hike which was not going to take much time.  We stopped to listen to the sounds in the trees and to identify some of the plants, insects and animals along the way.  The vibrant colors of butterflies landing against the greenery and blooms were a sign that spring had finally arrived.

Cardinal

With each step, the musical sounds of the birds  were coming towards us at every direction and we were surrounded by blue jays, orioles and cardinals.  The male cardinals  were easy to find with their bold red colors and we could see the females resting on the tree limbs nearby.

Duck waiting for Food

Schrock Lake was full of activity with ducks and geese paddling and chasing each other along the shoreline.  We found a front row seat on a nearby bench along the dock and watched the signs of spring before heading back to the trail.

Wild Turkey and Chicks

We had just returned to the walking path when we encountered a wild turkey and her chicks.  This was the first time I had ever seen them at Sharon Woods, so I was happy that I had brought along my camera.  I’ve hiked many of the Columbus Metro Parks and Sharon Woods is one of my favorites, just for the simple reason to experience its wildlife.

Do you have a favorite Metro Park in Columbus?  I would love to hear where you like to spend time outdoors, so if you would leave your story in the comments, section, that would be great!  Many thanks for reading about my day at Sharon Woods and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Sharon Woods Metro Park
6911 Cleveland Avenue
Westerville, OH  43081
Telephone:  614 315 5520

  • Admission Fee:  Free
  • Hours:  Daily from 6:30AM to 10PM from April through September and from 6:30AM to 8PM from October through
  • Amenities:  Park programs, trails, shelters, biking, fishing, picknicking, and sledding
  • Scenic View:  Early morning and dusk, there are several types of animals that roam the park.
  • Length of Visit:  1 – 2 hours or more depending on the activity

Where to Stay:

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Columbus Downtown
50 South Front Street
Columbus, OH  43215
Telephone:  614 228 4600

Where to Eat: 

Yanni’s Greek Restaurant
6196 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH  43231
Telephone:  614 890 4775

I had a light lunch here ordering the tzatziki sauce with pita bread.

Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:

  • Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream:  Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
  • North Market:  A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
  • The Thurman Cafe:  The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village.  There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
  • Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant:  While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.

What to Read: 

  • Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
  • Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
  • Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
  • Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper

Photo Guide for Columbus: 

  • Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
  • Columbus Museum of Art:  the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
  • Everal Barn and Homestead:  landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
  • Frank Fetch Park:  gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
  • Franklin Park Conservatory:  beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
  • Gantz Park:  barn, beautiful trees,
  • German Village:  brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
  • Grove City:  brick roads, small town, shopping area
  • Hayden Falls – wooden walking path, waterfall
  • Historical Village of Hilliard:  a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
  • Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
  • Inniswood Metro Gardens:  gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
  • Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
  • Ohio State University:  campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
  • Park of Roses in Clintonville:  various types of rose gardens
  • Riverfront Park:  city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Schiller Park:  gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
  • Scioto Mile:  city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
  • Scioto Park in Dublin:  statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
  • Short North:  restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
  • Topiary Park:  depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo

Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail

Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve is a part of the Hocking Hills State Park system.

There are two trails within the nature preserve and I began my hiking adventure with the rim trail which is 2.5 miles long and promises some spectacular views.

A set of stairs leads to the start of the trail taking me along the top of the gorge.

Conkle Hollow’s Rim Trail

At the beginning of the trail there is a steep climb so a set of chains have been installed for hikers who may need some assistance to make it up the hill.

Colorful rock formations hide behind the trees.

Looking down into the gorge from the rim trail, it is no surprise that some believe this to be the deepest gorge in the state of Ohio.

Gnarly tree roots occasionally appear along the trail so it is important for hikers to be aware of them so they don’t trip, fall or become injured.

I carefully looked over the cliffside to determine how high I was standing above the gorge below.  The views from here are breathtaking.

There are moments along my hike where I stop to take in the amazing scenery.   I can only imagine this hike and how spectacular it must be in the fall when the leaves are changing.

Stunning Scenery

Cliff-Hanging Scenery

In the distance, frozen water hangs along the cliff of the gorge.

Another view looking down into the gorge

Fir trees stretching up from the gorge below

The challenges of hiking the Conkle’s Hollow Rim Trail

The Conkle’s Hollow Rim trail took me about 2.5 hours to complete which left me plenty of time to hike the Gorge trail below, a 1.2 mile loop.  I am looking forward to exploring the gorge after having seen it from above.  This will give me the opportunity to photograph some of the frozen waterfalls along my route.

Have you hiked Conkle’s Hollow State Nature preserve Rim Trail?  I would love to hear if you enjoyed it as much as I did if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks and Happy Trails!

What to See and What to Do:

Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve
24858 Big Pine Road
Rockbridge, OH  43149

  • Admission Fee:  There is no fee for hiking the trail.
  • Hours:  Open daily
  • Length of the Tour:  2 – 3 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Wear comfortable shoes for hiking.  The rim trail can be very dangerous, so check out the trail before bringing children with you.  Stay on the trail.  Visit the nature preserve’s website for a map.

Where to Stay:

Hocking Hills Treehouse Cabins
22784 Purcell Road
South Bloomingville, OH  43152
Telephone:   614 599 1899
Website:  https://www.hockinghillstreehousecabins.com/

Where to Eat:

JimBo’s Burgers and Beer
23356 State Route 52
South Bloomingville, OH  43152
Telephone:  740 332

What to Read: 

  • Hocking Hills, by Doreen McMillian
  • Hocking Hills Day Hikes, by Mary Reed