Hey Folks,

The weather appears to be finally warming up. . Anyone have any interesting plans? We have a bunch planned. In July we will be going back to Maine to do the puffin thing. i am debating the purchase of a Sigma 120-300. The newly updated lens sounds pretty cool. In August, I may be joining Steve Kossack in Glacier (he asked if we had the time the other day). Perhaps I will harass Mr. Bynum and see if he is around at that time.

Th Fall is the big question mark. My brother is pushing for us to venture to Yosemite/Sequoia as opposed to jellystone, We are also thinking possibly about Acadia again for foliage. LOL, decisions decisions.

James

James & All,

We are planning a late July trip to Denver, and then somewhere in the mountains for several days. I'm looking for reasonable accommodations, a quirky town with shops that will keep my wife entertained, and good access to a national park with awesome photo ops. Anybody have any ideas for the northern CO, southern WY area?

Folks are traveling to us this year. Tammy's Parents are coming the first week of June and staying through at least the 4th of July. Bringing two nephews along, so there will be lots of Busch Gardens and Hershey Park in the plans.

I have a trip right in the middle of it to OH, but other than that, I'm trying to do portraits in the studio for most of June. Only two events planned.

Hey Preston,

I have never been to Colorado in my life. I have a friend though who works for the State and spends a lot of time in the parks. If you want, I can check around. As to Southern Wyoming, are you talking about being in the Cheyenne area? I have a friend who was at the AARP Spelling B contest a couple of months back and I know there are some state parks around there....

James

Sounds like fun, James! Nothing quite like photographing a glacier, though. Wish I could go!

Preson, I've only been to Denver once, when I was in the 11th grade, don't remember much of the surrounding area. But we did have fun, thats for sure!

We are going to Cherokee NC in 2 weeks, looking forward to those photo ops. Then, in June, we are going to San Antonio TX to see my son graduate from Air Force Basic Training. We lived there for 5 years, and he was actually born there, but I don't think there will be many nature photo ops, but there will be photo ops of my son.

Well, we are only stopping in Denver for a night with friends (ie, free nights lodging) before heading north toward Boulder, Steamboat, Breckenridge, or Cheyenne. Its wide open right now. Any ideas are appreciated. I know Breckenridge and Steamboat from skiing, but I really don't know the National Parks and their photo ops.

Marie,

Cherokee? Really? That's near my old stomping grounds.

Forget the casino, go over to Cullowhee and get a kayak or a tube and take a lazy ride down the Tuckaseegee.

Get up on the Blue Ridge parkway or hike the Appalachian trail.

Or go white water rafting on the Nantahala. http://www.noc.com/

Or go see the former super secret spy station in Rosman, NC. http://www.carolinacorner.com/attractions/pari-secret-spy-station-educational-resources.htm

Hey, thanks, Preston!
Yep, we are going for 2 nights and 3 days. We lucked out and got a free hotel stay (can even bring the dogs) through the Harrahs Casino hotel. There is so much to do outside the casino, we don't actually have plans to stay inside. We have been there once before, and have passed through once before heading back from Knoxville after Thanksgiving. I truely love that place, the mountains, the streams, the mornings, the afternoons looking out into the valleys...just beautiful!
Thanks for the info, I'm gonna check out that white water rafting!
I've got a photo project due for the NYIP course I'm in. 90 degree lighting and backlighting..hoping to get these shots.

Preston:

You did not say how much time you have but Rocky Mountain National Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Denver. Neither my wife and I are into shopping at all, so I don't know if Estes Park area meets your wife's shopping criteria, though. Of course just a few hours west of Steamboat Springs is Dinosaur National Park and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. I really like both, but RMNP is probably more photogenic unless you are lucky enough to get commercial rafting reservations.

Jim

Going back to Yosemite mid-June for a one on one workshop with Michael Frye