Nichole McDaniel Art Travel Adventure
Utah, Travel, Photography
Nichole McDaniel
Day 4 - Quail Creek State Park, Utah

The lake isn't very big and there wasn't too much to explore, which was nice in comparison to other, more crowded lakes nearby. It was pleasant how quiet it was and we were able to relax and take in the surrounding mountains. Each of us enjoyed taking a moment to cool off in the water. This was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me. Just taking it in and enjoying time with Ben.

Day 4 - Quail Creek State Park, Utah
Arizona, Photography, Travel
Nichole McDaniel
Day 1 - Pandemic Road Trip - Setting out for ...

We packed the SUV with the usual road trip necessities. This time, it included Lysol, masks, and lots of hand sanitizer. Leaving home around 1PM, we made our way toward Arizona in the middle of August during a heat wave...the ideal travel time to go to the desert ;)

Day 1 - Pandemic Road Trip - Setting out for Adventure
California, Photography, Travel
Nichole McDaniel
Sunrise at Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur

My goal was to capture the sunrise at the beach, maybe I should have left a little sooner to get my camera set up. But I was still made it for the experience I was hoping for. This beach was perfect. I drove part of Big Sur in the dark to get there but it is easily accessible from a road off of Highway 1. The short walk to the beach only built up the anticipation of what the beach and sunrise would look like.

Sunrise at Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur
California, Photography, Travel
Nichole McDaniel
Monterey & Carmel by the Sea

Monterey has a unique rocky shore line creating large crashing waves allowing for amazing photos. The downtown area is also fun with plenty of shops, great restaurants and beautiful parks near the bay where all the boats are docked.

Monterey & Carmel by the Sea
California, Travel
Nichole McDaniel
Santa Cruz and The Mystery Spot

Our next destination was the “Mystery Spot,” and we didn’t really know what to expect. This illusion-based tourist attraction is in the middle of the woods, down a windy one lane road. When you get there you find a really unique tourist attraction, including a souvenir shop, food and plenty of photo opportunities. The tours are $8 a person, plus $5 per vehicle for parking, cash or check only and tours last about 45 minutes.

Santa Cruz and The Mystery Spot

Stargazing

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Day 6 - Bryce Canyon National Park -Exploring & Stargazing

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Day 6 - Bryce Canyon National Park -Exploring & Stargazing

The great thing about our cabin was its proximity to the Rim Trail where we had walked earlier in the day (about a 3 minute walk). We grabbed our camping chairs and enjoyed our beers while watching the sunset and the stars slowly emerge, one by one. I don't know if I have ever seen so many stars. I grabbed my tripod for my camera to attempt a little astrophotography. I know they aren't great compared to other photographers, but I was excited to test it out and capture this cool experience we shared together. I will definitely be exploring the stars more with my camera. I can see how addicting it can be.