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Kristen May

Adventurer, hiker, and photographer from Portland, Oregon.

Hands down my favorite spot on the Oregon coast, the sunset and sunrises here are some of the best I've ever seen and it doesn't hurt that you can drive on the beach, leading to even more adventures!

Just hiked it 5 minutes ago and fell in love. Not too steep but offers beautiful views.

I work just down the street from this park and go here all the time for a jog. It's a gorgeous lake and full of little trails to explore off the main loop. Going here on a weekend can get pretty busy, so I always stick to weekdays.

Loch raven is one of marylands most gorgeous reservoirs, it's always a great place for a quick stroll or jog and is a great place to catch the sunset.

Trail running here is pretty great, fairly easy and not overly crowded.

This is an amazing place to go for a quick walk or bike ride. If you start up this trail in Monkton on a weekend be sure to stop by Millstone Ciders and grab a cider and explore the old mill that it's in.

Take the time to head into Elk Neck State park and see the lighthouse. This park and the forest around it offer some pretty views of the bay.

While not as grand and less exciting of a hike than section A, this hike does offer some pretty spectacular views of the river, some neat rocks to scramble, and has significantly less crowds than the more popular section A.

This place has become one of my favorite in the entire state to see the leaves changing in the fall. The trail is easily accessible and offers some amazing views of the lake and the forest.

There are definitely better spots in the area, but this spot makes for a fun adventure. I've hiked all the trails in this park and they all have their own little perks. It's a nice place for families and beginners who want to get into hiking.

I wouldn't call this much of a "trail" but it's a nice path through this very historic place. It offers some of the best views of the harbor and is not to be missed if you're in the city.

Sugarloaf is a beautiful place to escape the craziness of DC. It offers both hiking trails and roads that take you to some pretty great views. This trail passes some pretty neat little abandoned buildings on the way up which make for a fun pitstop.

I grew up going here so this place has a special place in my heart. It doesn't offer many spectacular views but can give you a great place to get some exercise and get out of the city.

Patapsco offers some fun trails that are perfect for those looking to get into hiking, they don't offer grand views but can be fun for beginners.

This is the best trail (in my opinion) in the park, it offers some pretty great views and some stream crossings which make it for an even more fun time! Be careful if you hike this after a big rain as it gets very eroded and muddy!

This trail is one of the best in the area. Hiking it can leave you feeling like you're in a follow rely different place. It's very easy and worth a hike if you're nearby.

This is my favorite hike in New Mexico, the ladders make for quite the adventure. The view from the top is absolutely amazing as well.

I love this place, the fact that you can climb into some of the ruins here make this an amazing adventure. There are so many photography opportunities along the hike as well.

There are many spots to camp all around this lake if you know where to look and all of them come with amazing views. My days camping in this area are easily some of the most memorable days from my trip.

This place isn't lying when they say it's the hottest place in the US, don't let that discourage you though, it's worth pushing on through the heat to explore.

This place is completely different than any other lake in the area, and well worth a trip to see.

By far one of the coolest parts of Death Valley. The beginning of the dunes can get crowded but if you are able to get past the crowds the views get even more amazing. Be sure to bring water even if you're not planning on being out long as this hike can drain you pretty fast.

This is one of my favorite lakes to explore, it's full of both history and many things to do. The lake itself is an easy lake to access making it good for a quick stop or photo opportunity.

If you are only able to pass through this area, you should at least take the time to see this arch. The trail leading to it is both easy and beautiful and takes little time to complete. Be sure to bring water though since this is a desert hike.