Monkey Park in Arashiyama, Japan

Fondly remembered as Monkey Mountain, this quick side trip was one of my favorite parts of our Kyoto visit.

Visitor Information: Here is an excellent link with a map and other tourist destinations in the area. We took a JR Train to get here and exited at the Saga-Arashiyama station. Our intended stop was the bamboo forest and after wandering through that park, we found ourselves at the river. There is so much to do in this area. As long as you are walking in the right direction (towards the river), you can find something to see and do without having a detailed agenda.

That being said, if you have picky eaters in your travel group, here is my advice for eating in Japan: When the picky eaters see something that they are interested in, you should probably just stop and get a snack. Even if it is not lunch time. We walked by several food stands on our way from the train to the bamboo forest and there were items that appealed to everyone. Our get-things-done tourist mentality prompted us to keep going and wait until lunchtime to get food. On our vacations, however, we frequently end up missing the lunch hour because we were absorbed in one of our side trips and forgot to keep time. I prefer being able to do this than follow a rigid schedule, but it comes at a cost. You might find yourself very hungry and searching for food only to realize you are in a district that closes down shop between the lunch and dinner hours, leaving few dining options available. As with most meals when traveling, be flexible or plan ahead are two pretty solid options.

Here are some more specific details for visiting the monkey park:

Admission is reasonably priced between between 250 and 550 yen per person (approximately $2.50 to $5.50), making this an affordable side trip. Keep in mind that you will want to buy snacks at the top to feed the monkeys. I believe it is around 300 yen for a bag of snacks; I opted for the bag of apple slices and felt there was a good amount to feed the monkeys. Do NOT feed the monkeys outside of the hut. There are a lot of them and they are really excited- and can get aggressive- about their food. You want to extend a flat palm to the monkeys so they can pick up their snack.

On the way to the feeding area, you will be walking up a mountain. It may be a small mountain, but you will want decent walking attire and should expect a lot of stairs and incline. While you are hiking to the top, you may encounter some monkeys roaming the hills to burn off some energy. Keep in mind the following rules:



      1. Don't stare at the monkeys in the eye.

      2. Don't touch the monkeys.

      3. Don't feed them outside.



     










 
I saw this sign just after I took this close up photo of my furry friend. Seconds after that picture, the monkey ran towards my phone which was pretty close to my face. I am summing this up as a monkey charged at my face. I squealed and ran away, and that was the end of our encounter, but I did not try to get that close for another photo until I was safe within the hut.

I highly recommend this stop if you are ever in the area! There is a stunning view of Kyoto from the top and feeding the monkeys makes for a unique experience.

Meridian Hill Park

This outdoor space is a nice hideaway in DC when you are looking for some greenery inside the city. It is particularly special for me and my husband since it's where we got married last year. <3 Over the weekend we took a trip to Meridian Hill Park to picnic and renew our vows.

It was nice having time to explore the park this trip. One of the most recognizable features of Meridian Hill Park is the large cascading waterfall; however, there are a number of statues with varied subjects here as well. Try to make a connection between Dante, Joan of Arc, and James Buchanan. Weird. But they are all excellent works of art and make for a nice addition to a walk in the park.

The upper level of the park is lined with tons of benches, so there is no shortage of seating here. There is supposed to be a community drum circle on Sunday afternoons, but we have not made it to one of those yet. We did see a family playing with a remote controlled boat in the pond, a group playing badminton, several picnics, a few yoga enthusiasts, a couple games of Frisbee, and some crazy guys running stairs. This would be a great place to run stairs if you are looking to mix up your workout- there are plenty of them! 

Parking around here is not too bad if you can parallel park moderately well. We have been lucky enough to find a spot on W street both times but as we drove around the park on the way home, we noticed plenty of spots on the hilly perimeter. The U Street metro station is also within walking distance if you would prefer to leave the car at home.

PS There are clean public restrooms on site.

Harpers Ferry Hiking

Last weekend my husband and I loaded up the car with our hiking gear and drove to West Virginia! It felt so nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of D.C. especially since we only had to spend an hour in the car getting there. Upon arriving at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, we learned that there was free entry for all to celebrate Veteran's Day. Normally it is $10 per car or $5 for individuals who enter on bike or foot.

The visitor center is small but has some very helpful rangers who are willing to guide you in the right direction. They also have stamps for your parks passport. If you plan on hiking, make sure you ask for a more detailed trail map. You might notice that this park is very spread out, but there are free shuttle buses that will take you from the visitor center to town. The buses were pristine and ran frequently.We were told 10-15 minutes, but when we were heading out around noon, the buses kept coming every 5 minutes.You can walk back to the visitor center from town. It is about 2 miles, and keep in mind the sun sets much earlier now! Also, know that there is more than one visitor center within walking distance. If you see the sign while at Jefferson Rock, that is the Appalachian Trail visitor center that is .7 miles away and not the National Park visitor center. We had no idea until we got right below it; fortunately, a nice lady walking her dog came by and was able to point us in the right direction. (Keep going on the trail and take the left at the fork in the trail and head down the hill. Then you will be back on the road with signs to guide your way.)

Our big hike of the day was the Maryland Heights Trail. This is one of the more strenuous trails offered at Harpers Ferry, but the view is so worth it. The hiking itself wasn't too difficult (unlike the Billy Goat Trail) it just involved a whole lot of up. Those were some steep inclines that did not let up. My husband likes to "get in a workout" on the first half of a hike. I felt like I was going to die as we trekked past everyone. (I survived!) If you take your time though, you should have no problem. There is a stunning overlook at the top where you can see picturesque Harpers Ferry sitting on the river below. The train passed by right when we got up there and topped off the whole experience. I will avoid describing too much and just show some pictures. It is very windy at the top! If you hike this during the fall/winter, you will definitely want a jacket.

There is plenty to explore in town as well. If you are hungry after a day of hiking, Lower Town offers a lot of sandwich/salad type restaurants and tons of ice cream shops. The architect in your group will enjoy the well-preserved buildings, and shoppers will be delighted with the assortment of stores including handmade and local items. We wandered into a "historic candy shop" that dates back candy favorites and their histories to the 1700s. The woman who owns this store will gladly talk to you about the fascinating history of candy, and the best part is you can take some home. Museums are set up in several of the historic buildings around town so you can step inside and learn more about this town's Civil War past. Did you know Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark) stopped through town to get his gear for their famous expedition? There is a cemetery that dates back to the 1800s nearby Jefferson Rock. If you walk a little further down the trail after taking in the view, you will notice some stone steps off to your right. Those lead up to the cemetery; there is a plaque at the top to give you more information about its history. One thing I really enjoyed about this trip was the history lesson. Signs and exhibits all over Harpers Ferry illustrated the town's past in an interesting and engaging way. This is a well-rounded family outing!

Billy Goat Trail A

perfect weather for hiking

What a fun day! This hike is what my husband and I were looking for on our first trip to Great Falls National Park. At the time, we had no idea that there were two separate entrances- one on each side of the Potomac. This entrance (on the Maryland side) did not have a line of cars when we showed up in the middle of the day, although many people were out enjoying the park. If you are in the military, you are eligible for an annual park pass which covers admission and parking (for free).

The visitor center is housed in an old tavern and has several different maps and stamps for your National Parks Passport. Other neat things at this location include: an $8 boat ride down the canal, free bicycle borrowing at the park, access to a loooong walking trail along the canal, scenic overlooks, a food hut, and decent restrooms. *This is part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park but is referred to as Great Falls.

Boat rides on the canal are offered 3 times a day.

To get to the Billy Goat Trail cross over the bridge at the visitor center and walk along the canal until you see a white covered bridge. Entrance A to the trail is off to your right (before you cross under the bridge). The start of this trail is similar to the River Trail I described from our previous trip. You have to maneuver around rocks on the trail and hop over some, but it is no big deal. When you get further in, everything changes. The rocks become huge and you have no choice but to climb up onto them, jumping and scrambling from one boulder to the next. I must say, I have never felt more like a mountain goat in my life. This trail is aptly named. Be sure you bring plenty of water. Once you get into a rhythm and begin conquering boulders it is easy to forget about time and how hard your body is working.

There are 3 separate trails of varying difficulty.

There are tons of places where you can take a break to enjoy the view or refuel. One smart couple brought a blanket and had a picnic on one of the rocks. If you are unsure about continuing, you can always turn around or take the exit trail that is further in. There is a 40 foot climb up a rock wall (not pictured here) that you have to make in order to continue on the trail. It seems intimidating, but there are plenty of places to grab onto, and it is at an incline so you are not climbing straight up.

The arms on the far right give you an idea of where the "trail" is. 

This is a very popular hike in the D.C. area, so it is crowded on weekends. If you are looking for a quiet walk through nature, this is not the trip for you; although, I would imagine it is much less crowded during the week. If you have a fear of heights, poor balance, or limited mobility, you should carefully assess the risks and decide whether or not you are up for this trek. That being said, this is an absolutely gorgeous hike that leads through the woods, along the river, over rocky cliffs, and by the beach.

We found some extra rocks to climb.

So many people have recommended this trail to us, and now I know why. It is challenging, fun, and exhilarating. The only time I tripped over anything was when we were walking back on the flat ground. Go figure. I was a little apprehensive about this hike/climb, but I had a great time and would love to visit again!

Kayaking on the Potomac

This weekend my husband and I went back to the Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove and rented a kayak for two! We stumbled upon this gem a few weeks ago while walking the Capital Crescent Trail, and I am so glad we returned. Getting into the place is a bit of a challenge since the driveway is an impossibly sharp turn off a busy highway. Hope you are coming towards the driveway head-on, and if you are not, it might be worth it to drive a few extra miles and turn around for a better angle of entrance.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal

Once you tackle that challenge, you are in the clear! Get out of the car, stretch your legs, and revel in the sunshine. There are some really clean bathrooms by the parking lot, so that's a plus. The Abner Cloud House is also right there (built in 1801). This area is part of a large National Park. For those of you collecting stamps, there is not a stamp at this particular location. Great Falls National Park in Virginia has several different stamps for sites in the nearby area. Cross over the canal bridge to get to the boat rentals, or follow the driveway down to get to the parking lot on the other side. There are several picnic tables and even some grills in the area. Keep in mind this is a trash-free park, so you will need to carry out all the food wrappers and leftovers from your picnic.

Abner Cloud House, 1801

While enjoying a quick snack before heading out on the water, we met a really cool guy named Gabe who is training for a marathon! Last summer he decided to get off the couch and start running. In the past year he has gone from not running at all to marathon-ready. So impressive. He has made a great transformation and is incredibly humble about it. It was a pleasure talking with him and a great reminder to be more dedicated about my running goals. Good luck, Gabe!

Glimpse of the Potomac

The weather was perfect this weekend, and we had a great time out on the water. The views along the Potomac are absolutely gorgeous. We encountered some jumping fish and ducks who swam alongside our kayak. Paddling upstream (right) when exiting the dock led to a really quiet stretch of water. There were far fewer boats because most people were headed the opposite direction towards Georgetown. After a while we paddled our boat that direction, too. It was really neat seeing that area from a completely different perspective. The crowd surrounding a Georgetown kayak/canoe rental location was one more reason to rent went with the Boathouse at Fletcher's Cove. It is $45 to rent a kayak for the day, and for $25 a day you can rent a rowboat. We plan on going back to try that before the season ends.

Capital Crescent Trail

Catching up on some posts. : ) I am busy training for a new job, we (me and my handsome new roommate) moved over the weekend, and we are also getting married this weekend. Whew! Life is busy and exciting. Here's a look at a relaxing and outdoorsy outing from last week.

It really was this green!

Living in the city, but longing for some trees and fresh air, my fiance and I decided to walk the Capital Crescent Trail. We had used nearby sections for a few scenic runs, but with 11 miles of trail there was much more to see (Ha! I never thought I would describe running as "scenic"). Walking with a pack of snacks and water allowed us to take as much time as we wanted to walk 8 miles of trail from Bethesda through Georgetown. It is a really nice walk, and I recommend it for anyone who wants to get outdoors and move while avoiding the more crowded areas in/around D.C. Bonus: We found a National Park off the side of the trail about halfway through our trip. They rent kayaks, canoes, etc. and have some really nice picnic areas.

After our walk we decided to take the metro over to the courthouse to pick up our marriage license. That was not a quick stop like we were hoping. I felt bad for the people who had to sit next to our sweaty selves. An hour and a half later... we emerged victorious with an official document in hand! In total, we probably walked 10 miles that day getting to the trail and around the city by metro.

We made it to Georgetown.

Note: while walking sounds like easy exercise with minimal consequences, we were both incredibly sore the next two days.

cool old tunnel on trail route

Great Falls National Park

The other day my fiance and I took a short drive over to Great Falls, VA to enjoy some fresh air. While the drive was short, we had to sit in a long entrance line to the park once we got there. In the future, we will be leaving the house a little bit earlier to avoid sitting in the car for a half hour. Once we escaped from the automobile, though, we had an excellent time! This park has tons of picnic tables and open spaces outside the visitor center. It was pretty crowded with picnics, pets, and family outings, but there was plenty of room left over. A bonus which I did not expect was a concession stand! That's right. If you get there and decide granola bars aren't going to cut it, there is a full concession stand below the visitor center that offers plenty of affordable food options (even ice cream!).

 Moving past the entrance and picnics, the views here are gorgeous. There are some easily accessible views by the picnic area if you don't feel like a long hike. Some careful maneuvering over rocks may be required, so good shoes might be beneficial. However, I was surprised by the number of people I saw walking around in flip-flops and dresses. This site caters to all levels of outdoorsy individuals. You can see a beautiful series of waterfalls/rapids on the Potomac which are surrounded by rocky cliffs. We took the River Trail from the picnic area and enjoyed a scenic route overlooking the river. Warning: this trail has many rocks to clamber over and around. It is a fairly level trail, though, which makes for a leisurely, interesting walk. It was not quite the "hike" we were expecting. On the way back we took Old Carriage Road which was gravel-paved and lined with trees. Overall, this was a great outdoor experience close to D.C., and we will definitely by visiting again!