Tag Archives: hike

Shaw Butte Trail

April 9, 2021Arizona, Blog, Nature, Uncategorized, United Stateshike, phoenixbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I travel. A lot. Not always for fun, sometimes we’re just moving—and we’ve moved 12 times in our seven-year marriage! But with the pandemic, we’ve really slowed it down. In fact, I haven’t been out of the country for over a year, and barely left the state. Still, I’ve been able to do some exploring right here in Phoenix! Although I’ve spent over 20 years of my life here, there’s still a lot I’ve never seen, especially when it comes to hiking trails.

A couple years ago, Ben got me a book called 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Phoenix for Christmas. It has been our goal to hit all 60 hikes—even if some of them CHEAT and are 75 miles out of town! Not surprisingly, the 15 hikes we’ve done have been mostly close to home.

One of my favorites so far is a hike that Ben and I did during his last day off: Shaw Butte. Although we lived ten minutes away from his hike for three years, we never did it. Now that we’ve moved across town, I can say it’s still worth the drive!

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Shaw Butte is apparently one of the most popular hikes in Phoenix. While I was doing Camelback and Piestewa over and over, other outdoor enthusiasts were throwing Shaw Butte into the mix. It’s actually quite a bit easier than either of the other two, but it is a bit longer, at four miles.

My favorite part of this hike is that you get a completely different view of Phoenix. It lines up just right with Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw so that you get to see layers on layers of mountains—something that’s not common to find in the middle of urban sprawl!

My second-favorite part of the hike are the ruins three-quarters of the way to the summit. Although ancient ruins are definitely more interesting, the shell of this 1960s building is still pretty cool. Especially considering that what used to be a restaurant patio is now the ideal lookout spot for viewing downtown Phoenix (and snapping some shots for Insta, let’s be real).

The story behind the ruins is even better. Sixty years ago, a restaurant called Cloud Nine overlooked what was then the northern part of Phoenix. Patrons were shuttled to the fancy nightclub using the owner’s vehicle, since no real road was built and there’s only way up and down.

I have to imagine that Cloud Nine wasn’t exactly to code. Maybe that’s why it burned down in a mysterious fire. And unlike the mythical bird our city is named after, it never rose from the ashes.

If you’re like me, and were clueless about Shaw Butte, or if you’re just visiting Phoenix, put this hike on your to-do list! Not only is it a good workout and an excellent photo op, but it’s also a unique view into the history of Phoenix. If you stand very still, you may be able to imagine the ghosts of night club patrons milling around the patio with voice of Bobby Darin floating from the record player.

Discovering Woldumar Nature Center: Lansing, Michigan

August 23, 2017Blog, International Travel, Michigan, Nature, United Statesapples, center, family, fun, hike, lansing, lunch, michigan, nature, picnic, siblings, walk, Woldumarbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

Michigan is offering us plenty of new ground to explore! To be honest, we haven’t actually had time to see much so far. We’re working all week and spending the weekends garage sale shopping. I’ve even only seen downtown Detroit from a distance!

Still, we have had one adventure since we moved here. We’re blessed to live two hours away from the only siblings on Ben’s side who live in the States! Stevie, Ben’s brother, and his wife, Kirsten, live in Grand Rapids. They invited us to hang out with them on our first Saturday in Michigan, so we met them in Lansing for a nature walk and picnic at Woldumar Nature Center!

What to Expect at Woldumar Nature Center

This nature center goes along the Grand River. It has picnic areas, a small museum, apple trees, a huge lawn, and miles of paths to wander.

We started off with a picnic by the river. I was very tempted to try the rope swing that hangs over the lake, but then I remembered that I am 23 and not 12, and I can’t get away with running around with wet hair anymore. Sometimes social expectations are so bothersome!

After lunch, we had to decide which of the many paths to take. There are plenty of options, but we picked a long trail that would through the woods.

We were thrilled to see the apple trees! Ben and I are from Phoenix and we’ve been living in the Caribbean for a couple years, so apple trees are quite an exciting sight for us. Kirsten and Stevie thought our exclamations of delight were funny, but they didn’t mind hunting for windfalls with us!

Our walk ended at a large grassy field. If you know anything about Ben and Stevie, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that they were both carrying around a Frisbee for just such an occasion. An hour or two of tossing around the Frisbee in the sunshine was just what we needed to relax and unwind!

How to Get to Woldumar Nature Center

Woldumar Nature Center is located in Delta Charter Township, near Lansing.

The center is located near the convergence of highways 69 and 96. It’s on Old Lansing Road.

Here’s the address:

Woldumar Nature Center

5739 Old Lansing Road

Lansing, Michigan 48917

Cost and Logistics

The cost to visit is a donation of $2 each– the perfect price for a group of people with students in the family.

All you have to do is walk into the building, drop your donation in the box on the desk, and grab a map!

Woldumar Nature Center is open from 9 to 4 on weekdays and 9 to noon on weekends, according to Google. However, we were there long past noon on a Saturday, and I didn’t see anyone getting kicked out!

Woldumar Nature Center is about an hour away from our home in Detroit, which is a lot of driving. Will we be back? Yes, of course! We all need nature escapes now and then, and this nature park in Lansing fits the bill perfectly.

A Walk Along the CAP Canal

May 9, 2017Arizona, International Travel, Nature, Uncategorized, United Statesarizona, canal, deem, desert, dog, hike, hills, jog, path, run, walkbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

Just in case you were wondering, Phoenix has a grand total of zero natural waterways. We do, however, have a couple of canals. The Central Arizona Project Canal and the Salt River Project Canal. These take water from the Colorado River and the Salt River and bring it to the city because, well, there’s a city in the middle lf the desert with no water. Go figure.

The CAP canal isn’t too far from our house; in fact, it runs through the middle of one of our favorite hiking ranges, Deem Hills.

Deem Hills is in the Northwestern corner of Phonix. If you start at the east entrance of the trails, you can take the Circumference Trail a short distance to the path that goes along the edge of the canal. Unlike the hilly trail over the mountains, this is a nice flat trail, good for long walks and jogging.

The trail goes through the range, and then runs behind a neighborhood. It offers access to parks and playgrounds, and has nice views of the canal.

When a canal’s all you’ve got, it’s actually a pretty desirable view. We did find a rattlesnake back there once, so keep an eye out just in case!

Kito loved the trails. She’s still discovering new and interesting things, like quail and rabbits. She didn’t even mind when we ran the last mile! This is the first of many family hikes in Deem Hills.

Babit Point Hike at Oyster Pond

April 8, 2017American University of the Caribbean, AUC, Caribbean, Expats, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, Nature, Saint Martin/ Sint Maarten, Spouses Organization, Uncategorizedbabit point, Caribbean, dawn beach, hike, Island, oyster pond, Saint Martin, SXM, tourism, vacationbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

Oyster Pond in Saint Martin has transformed into a high-end yacht paradise over the last few years. Much to the chagrin of those who knew the tranquil beauty of Oyster Pond’s former wilderness, the area is now a huge tourist center. Like it or not, that’s the way things are. But what if I told you that there is still a wonderful getaway on the shores of Oyster Pond? This is Babit Point, a lonely peninsula of criss-crossing paths and stunning views. Bring your kids, your sweetheart, or just yourself– anyone can enjoy this easy hike.

Babit Point is to the North of Oyster Pond and the south of Coralita Beach. Actually, there’s a trail of sorts leading from Coralita to Babit Point. To drive to Babit, go toward the St. Barth ferry in Oyster Pond, then keep going until you see a dirt lot and some donkeys behind a wooden fence.

To be honest, this is one of those places you might have to hunt for. We drove into a wrong street or two before we found it.

This whole area reminds me of rural Arizona, where you can always see donkeys browsing among the cactus.

The hike to the top of Babit Point is short, and there are some large boulders to climb on. Wow! What a view. We could see Oyster Pond and Dawn Beach, plus St Barth, Statia, and St. Kitts in the distance.

We went down the path to the water’s edge. Oyster pond is pretty much totally developed today, which made me a little sad. I’ve heard rumors of a beach and mangroves that used to be there, and I would have liked to see that. I guess it’s all the more reason to give some love to the island’s remaining healthy pond ecosystems. It looks like the reef around the area is still really nice, though. Maybe we can snorkel it on a calm day.

I don’t come to this side of the island very often, so visiting is always a treat! I feel like I’m exploring a new island altogether. It’s a nice way to shake the Saint Martin claustrophobia I feel now and then.

If you haven’t been here, you need to go at least once. It’s the less steep and potentially deadly version of Guana Bay, even though its not nearly as long. Boy, I love these trails! They’re a huge part of what makes Saint Martin an amazing place to be.

How to Find the Guana Bay Hike

March 13, 2017American University of the Caribbean, AUC, Caribbean, Expats, Expats and TCKs, International Travel, Nature, Saint Martin/ Sint Maarten, Spouses Organization, Uncategorizedadventures, American University of the Caribbean, AUC, beach, Caribbean, culture, Dutch Side, Expat, family, guana bay, hike, International, Island, kids, Med school, medical school, nature, ocean, overseas, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, st martin, St. Maarten, st. martin, SXM, travelbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

The Guana Bay hike is a popular hike on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, but it can be pretty hard to find if you’ve never done it before. To avoid driving endlessly around or scrambling up a frightening hillside of loose rocks, follow these directions and enjoy one of the most beautiful hikes of your life! Here’s how to find the Guana Bay hike in Sint Maarten.

To Find the Guana Bay Hike:

To get the hike, drive north (counter-clockwise) from Philipsburg. If you’re on Pondfill Road, drive toward the east coast of the island and go north (left) at the freed slave roundabout. Keep driving until you see the sign that says “Guana Bay” on your right. It’s kind of small, so keep your eye out. You’ll turn right at the next right after you spot the sign. The road will take you up a hill, then down and to the coast. You’ll see the beach on your left and the parking lot on your right.

Now, it’s probably good to know that the name “Guana Bay Hike” is a misnomer. The beach on your left is Guana Bay, and the hike does NOT start here. We thought it did the first time we went, because getting lost is apparently just part of hiking for us. It was still fun, but it’s not the trail.

If you’re here, you’re in the wrong place

When you see the beach and the parking lot (aka dirt patch), keep going. You’ll get to the end of the road at a while abandoned house. The trail starts here, going directly toward the coast.

Full-Day Jet Ski Tour in St Martin

The Trail Head:

Like I said, the trail begins at the end of the road. It goes directly down toward the water, dipping down and passing this weird old garden thing before heading up. This is the path, and you can keep going until the end.

This is actually the very first Saint Martin activity that Ben and I did when we first moved here, over a year and a half ago! Our friends Austin and Stephanie took us here to give us a taste of the island life. Here’s a picture of Ben and I way back before we got our Caribbean tans. It’s hard to believe that this island adventure is almost over.

The Path

The Guana Bay path isn’t the kind of thing you want to do in flip-flops or even Chocos, really, although I have done it in Chacos. I also wouldn’t recommend taking little kids past the first couple bays, unless they’re seasoned hikers. I have taken kids to the rocky area and the first bay you reach. That part isn’t too bad.

After the first part, though, you get some narrow trails, steep drops, and straight-up hillsides. The end result, however, is worth it. It takes about an hour to get to the end.

By the way, “X” does not mark the spot when it comes to the Guana Bay Hike in Sint Maarten. Stay away from the old, disintegrated paths marked with a red “X.”

Fly Zone Extreme Adventure at Loterie Farm

Along the Way

Don’t forget to enjoy the treasures you find along the trail! One of my favorite stops is at the boulders. This is fairly early on in the hike. You’ll see all the big, black rocks. Climb down there and explore the tide pools and rocks. This is a great pace for viewing the cays and islands off the coast. The biggest one is St. Barth’s, and the closet cay is Guana Cay.

Another cool place is Geneve Bay, where you can often find pelicans swooping to the waves in search of fish. This is also a great place to hunt for conch shells.

There are also a whole bunch of goats on the path! When I take my dog, Kito, on this hike, she loves to chase them. There’s nothing I can do about it, so I just keep going and she eventually comes back. The first time she went racing after the goats, she was covered in cactus spikes from head to toe when she came limping back. Now she knows about the cactus and stays away.

St-Martin and St Maarten: Sightseeing Tour of the French and Dutch Sides of the Island

The End

The end of the Guana Bay Hike is the very best part! Here, you’ll find a deep natural pool that is protected from the waves. You can swim here, but beware of the urchins! My friend Jay was stung by one pretty badly. Just stay away from the walls and you’ll be fine. This is also a great place for sunbathing.

Beyond the Tide Pool

The Guana Bay Hike is already a pretty long hike if you go all the way to the pools, but if you’re up for more, the path continues. I’ve never been myself, but I believe the trail comes out at Point Blanche.

If you want to find more hikes in Saint Martin, check out my SXM Activities Page or read these posts on the Lovers Beach Hike, the Wilderness Hike, and the Pic Paradis Hike. Subscribe or like the 3rd Culture Wife Facebook Page for more posts on Saint Martin hikes!

Photo creds: Alyssa F. and Austin W

New York Waterfall Adventure

July 28, 2016International Travel, Nature, New York, Third Culture Kids, United Statescaves, family, hike, kids, nature, New York, pools, rural, water, waterfall, waterfallsbreanamjohnson@gmail.com

Away from the hustle and bustle of New York City life is a serene world of natural beauty. It came as a bit of a surprise to me that New York State could offer such a wonderful wilderness. As a West-Coast girl, I tend to think of New York as one giant metropolis. Not anymore! While I was in Springfield Center with my family, I discovered the wild side of New York.

The day of Ben’s brother’s wedding, I went with my sisters- and brothers-in-law to Robert B. Woodruff Learning Center, a waterfall hike near the farm where we stayed. The kids needed to get their wiggles out before the ceremony, and some of us still hadn’t seen the falls yet.

This day also happened to be Uncle Don’s birthday, so it was fun to get to all do something together with him.

Beside the falls are a series of natural caves. The kids were excited to go spelunking through them! They are deep enough to be interesting, but not deep enough to be dangerous, so they were able to run free through the natural playground. Micah discovered a hole that went from the bottom of the caves to the top, so of course everyone climbed through that several times. It reminded me of the secret entrance to the subterranean house in Peter Pan.

Once everyone had their fill of caves, we headed down to the falls. Okay, let’s be real—no kid ever has their fill of caves. But once we convinced everyone to clamber down the wooden staircase to the water, they forgot all about the caves and began to dare each other to swim from the shore to the falls in the freezing cold water.

A little further downstream, past the main falls, there is another wide fall that is covered in moss. The green carpet makes the falls comfortable and easy to walk on, so you don’t have to worry about slipping down them. We could safely walk right down through the bubbling stream of water to the pools below. The pools would be great for swimming, but none of us adults were willing to jump in the water like the kids were, although a couple did walk under the main falls.

The kids wandered around and found interesting things to catch their attention. Zach found some insect larva in one of the pools. Micah walked around with a great big Gandalf walking stick until he discovered fishing line and a hook. Carl and Linden learned to skip rocks with their dad, and Layla rolled up a great big green, fuzzy “allergy ball” from the algae on the rocks.

It was time to go all too soon! We said goodbye to the caves and the falls and walked back up the path, through the school, past the garden, and to the car. Who knew New York could have such beautiful nature?

Breana's Blog

A writer's adventures around the world