Wilkerson Nature Preserve: A Microadventure

Wilkerson Nature Preserve, Raleigh *We have added Anne B. Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve to our list of Best Local Hikes in the Triangle Area. Though small it is also quiet, scenic and feels much larger, in part because its trails connect to the much larger Falls Lake area and the Mountains to Sea Trail.* Not all the hikes we take […]

The Evolution of a Hiking Dog!

Our Time with Fitz Roy: We’re So Glad to be Adopted by a Great Dog! Few things have proven more satisfying to us than the adventure of dog ownership. When Sylvia and Brian married in 2009, Brian committed on paper to a dog. But that commitment stayed on paper for nearly a decade. Many valid concerns and objections were raised, […]

Fitz Roy Turns One Year Old!

The Domestic (Dog) Adventure: Fitz Roy Two months ago we introduced the fabulous Fitz Roy, the first four-legged member of the BecauseItzThere team. It has been a seriously new experience having Fitz aboard. Site Editor and Minister of Expedition Brian has managed a hiking expedition or two, most often with positive results, and he has had some past experience with […]

Giant Adventures

The Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park Having safely established our base in King’s Canyon National Park, it was time to go see the other and more heavily visited side of this fabulous complex of protected lands…that being Sequoia National Park. Sequoia is smaller than Kings Canyon, but owing to the fact that it’s most singular landmarks lie close to the […]

Back for Another Year!

The Holidays are Over and We’re Back Online We back from our holiday break and ready to embrace new adventures! In addition to hosting Sylvia’s family from Dallas, we spent much of this time bringing the new member of the team, future BecauseItzThere dogsled captain Fitz Roy, up to speed. It has been quite an adventure. The problem is not […]

A Rainbow in the Mist: Rainbow Falls

Waterfall Week II: Rainbow Falls, NC **DISCLAIMER: While all of the waterfalls featured here on Becauseitzthere can be safely hiked and enjoyed, be aware that there is GREAT RISK involved in venturing off trail near ANY of the waterfalls described here. We advise you to HIKE SAFELY. Please remember that you are responsible for your own safety on the trail. […]

A Not So Crabby Waterfall

Waterfall Week II: Crabtree Falls, NC **DISCLAIMER: While all of the waterfalls featured here on Becauseitzthere can be safely hiked and enjoyed, be aware that there is GREAT RISK involved in venturing off trail near ANY of the waterfalls described here. We advise you to HIKE SAFELY. Please remember that you are responsible for your own safety on the trail. […]

A Hidden Gem at Falls Lake!

  Blue Jay Point County Park, Wake County, NC **We have added Blue Jay Point County Park to our list of best local hikes. The park hosts part of the Mountains to Sea Trail, the continuous footpath that links the twin highlights of the Tar Heel State…it’s fabulous seacoast and its mountainous Western Border. It is one of our favorite […]

2016 Flashback…ONP

*This post originally appeared on the blog in December 2017…We have re-posted for the enjoyment of all during our ‘Summer re-runs” while Brian and Sylvia are in search of new adventures. After leaving Rainier we headed south Olympic National Park. This is the only area of Washington, besides Seattle, that I have previously visited and was returning to. We had […]