Hotel Review: The DoubleTree Arctic Club Hotel in Seattle, WA

5 Stars

Full of elegant charm and friendly, helpful staff, the DoubleTree Arctic Club Hotel is a welcoming place for the traveler to Seattle. Located close to the city’s center, the Arctic Club is within easy walking distance to many restaurants, museums, and Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. The elegantly understated interior is designed to evoke the ambiance of early 20^th century exploration and is replete with portraits of Arctic explorers, maps of the Northwest Passage, and stately chairs and tables reminiscent of the era. Just past the lobby is the Polar Bar, which perfectly exemplifies the hotel’s desire to provide luxury without taking itself too seriously. The Polar Bar, full of deep, comfortable chairs, cloth napkins and polished silver, has a drunken polar bear as its emblem.

Our room, though small, was very well appointed. Many amenities were incorporated into the room, including some that we had never before seen in a hotel room. As well as such common things as a coffee maker, hair dryer and ice bucket, we found tea, a loose tea strainer, and a French press. In addition to the large flat screen television, there was a DVD player and a stereo system complete with CD player. The writing desk was stocked with such office basics as a stapler, scotch tape, scissors, rubber bands and a calculator – no need to go to the office center. Robes and a safe awaited us in the closet, as well as a large umbrella (this is Seattle, after all).

The mini-bar was fully stocked with an array of beverages from champagne to sodas to fruit juices, and there was a basket of snacks that included an impressive array of choices. To their credit, the hotel made it clear that these items were not included in the cost of the room, but did so in an unobtrusive manner (again, their elegant understatement came through). Upon check-in, we were told that we could empty out the mini-bar to make room for anything that we might want to keep refrigerated, a welcome change from the old-style mini-bars that automatically charge you if anything inside is moved.

The bathroom was surprisingly roomy, and was designed for comfort and class. The towels were plush and thick, the bathtub jetted. A marble countertop graced the vanity, which had ample storage underneath. The bathroom door was charming, and included a frosted pane in the upper half. This proved to be one of the very few drawbacks, as it allowed light to spill into the main room (only an issue when one of us was in bed before the other).

The staff was extremely courteous and knowledgeable about the area. We were given many wonderful recommendations regarding everything from where to dine to modes of transportation to things to see and do. When they discovered that I was on a hunt for one particular item, the front desk staff took it upon themselves to call three different stores that they thought might carry it, and they checked with me upon my return to the hotel that evening to ensure that my quest had been successful. The housekeeping staff, too, was wonderfully warm, courteous and thorough; our room was kept in tip-top shape throughout our stay.

Many small details were attended to that really distinguish this hotel as a top-notch place to stay: a hand-written note welcoming us to our room, a variety of teas (not just black, but green and herbal as well), warm cookies upon our arrival. Overall, we were quite impressed with this hotel, and we would definitely stay here again.

City Escapes Nature Photography

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - June 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

June, 2011

 

 

 

Digital vs. Optical Zoom – They Are Not the Same

 

One of the functions most sought after in cameras these days is the ability to zoom in on your subject.  Personally, I use this function all the time.  For me, it not only offers several different framing options, but it also acts as a sort of insurance: many of my subjects would just as soon eat me or stomp me to death as allow me to get close to them.  The ability to zoom in on these subjects from a safe distance keeps me safe and them calm, both desirable traits.  All zoom functions are not created equally, however, and to get the most from your camera, it is important to know the differences.

 

While DSLRs usually rely on lenses to achieve magnification, point-and-shoot digital cameras often have two different kinds of zoom: “optical zoom” and “digital zoom.”  These two functions result in quite different qualities of image, though the average consumer is unaware of this and is often puzzled by the results of their efforts.  Here is what you need to know.

 

“Optical zoom” uses the lenses (the optics) within the camera to achieve true image magnification.  The lenses are moved in relation to one another, creating a crisp, clear magnification, while simultaneously using the full recording capacity of your camera (more on this below).  This is by far the best method of achieving image magnification, and for most people, should be the only kind of zoom considered when purchasing a p & s camera. 

 

Digital zoom is slightly more complicated, as there are now two common methods of achieving digital magnification.  The most common digital zoom uses a process called interpolation.  This involves enlarging the desired portion of the image to create gaps between the pixels.  The camera’s computer then fills in these gaps with more pixels, estimating the proper color for the new pixels based upon the colors of the surrounding pixels.  The resulting image is often slightly blurry or hazy, without crisp lines or sharp features.  Detail can be lost as the image is, for lack of a better term, smudged.

 

The second, newer method of digital zoom has several names, depending upon the manufacturer, but is generally called something to give the impression of a higher IQ: smart zoom, intelligent zoom, etc.  It is only available at a resolution below the camera’s maximum.  This allows the camera to shoot the image at full resolution, then trim enough data from the perimeter to shrink the size of the image to your chosen resolution.  Say you set an 8 megapixel camera to record the image at 4 megapixels.  The camera will take the image at the 8 megapixel size, then cut 4 megapixels’ worth of data from around the perimeter, effectively “zooming in” on the subject.  What it is actually doing is cropping the image in-camera.  This has the benefit of eliminating the need to interpolate, thereby preserving the sharpness of the image.  A major drawback, however, is that it simultaneously reduces the size of the image file, resulting in a lower ability to print the image at full size.  This is where optical zoom really shines: you get both the clarity of no interpolation, AND full size images that can be printed at larger sizes.

 

If you use any kind of image manipulation software, either version of digital zoom can be achieved after taking the picture, as well.  Though here, too, the results will not be as good as those achievable through optical zoom.

 

One should therefore use caution when using any kind of digital zoom, as there is definitely a price to be paid for it, either in image quality or file size.  In many cameras, it is possible to deactivate the digital zoom, and if quality is important to you, I would highly recommend you do so.  If you do not wish to disable the digital zoom, at least be aware of when you are using it.  All cameras will first move through their optical zoom range before utilizing their digital zoom.  Some camera models transition smoothly from optical to digital zoom, while others will move through their optical zoom range, stop, and require you to press the zoom button again to activate the digital zoom.  This can be a useful feature, as it makes it clear when you are switching from true zoom to interpolative or smart zoom.   

As an aside, we should emphasize that zoom capability and megapixels are not the same, and are in fact completely independent of each other.  Megapixels refer to the amount of data stored in an image, while zoom capability refers to the magnification possible.  Think of megapixels as the size of the windshield in your car, and zoom capability as how close to your subject you can drive.  The size of your windshield remains constant regardless of the distance to your subject.  Nonetheless, when you are far from your subject, it looks small in the windshield, and you see more of what surrounds it; when you are close to your subject, it looms much larger in your windshield, and more detail is visible within it.  Larger megapixel ratings give you a larger windshield, while larger optical zoom ratings allow you to drive closer to your subject.

Happy shooting, and remember, for shots like this month’s featured shot, “The Cat’s Meow – Lioness,” a good zoom doubles as good insurance!

 

 

 

The “Get the Word Out!” Event Deadline is Approaching

 

Time is quickly running out to enter our “Get the Word Out!” Event.  Subscribe to our newsletter and “like” us on FaceBook by June 17, 2011 to get your name put into the drawing (once for each) to win a limited edition print.  But remember, we must have 75 newsletter subscribers or 100 fans on FaceBook for the event to take place, so now is the time to get your friends involved, too.  Don’t miss your opportunity to win a beautiful City Escapes Nature Photography limited edition print!  And, since we will only give out the print if we hit our target, make sure your friends enter as well For full Event rules, see the April, 2011 newsletter, or go to here.   

 

 

June’s Fun Facts

 

Jodi is off on a quest to find one of her favorite large mammals this month, so we thought we’d share a little about this ungainly creature: the moose.

 

* The moose is the largest member of the deer family.

          * A moose’s gangly legs must support a considerable weight: adults weigh between 900 and 1800 pounds.

          * That funny looking flap hanging from under a moose’s chin is called a dewlap or bell.

          * Baby moose, called calves, can outrun a person by the time they are five days old.

          * In Europe and parts of Asia, moose are called elk.  This can lead to some confusion in North America, where “elk” refers to a completely different animal.

          * Moose attack more people annually than bears and wolves combined. 

          * Think only road vehicles collide with moose?  Not so; according to federal records, an average of one moose per year is hit by an airplane!

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

City Escapes Photography Newsletter - May 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

May, 2011

 

 

 

1 - 2 - 3 - Jump!          

Understanding Shutter Delay

 

Modern digital cameras have revolutionized photography, making it easier and cheaper than ever to record in pictures everything from your children’s sporting events and the family vacation to professional portraiture and product photography.  While many features of digital cameras make photography easier and more fun, there are a nagging few that are true headaches to deal with.  Learning to cope with these frustrating traits can further maximize the enjoyment of photography in the digital world.

 

A common problem among point-and-shoot and non-professional level digital cameras is what is known as “shutter delay.”  This occurs when there is a pause between the time when the shutter-release button is pushed and the shutter actually opens to take the picture.  In some camera models, this delay can be close to a second long.  While in our normal perception of time, a second does not seem very long, in photography, it can mean the difference between getting the shot at precisely the right moment or losing all impact.  Imagine trying to capture the moment when your son’s bat connects with the ball in his first hit in Little League, or the ball popping back up into the air as your daughter dives to dig a hard spike in her high school volleyball game.  Now imagine that same moment only a second later.  In both cases, the ball is long gone.  Your son is no longer in mid-swing, and is possibly no longer even holding the bat, and rather than flying through the air, your daughter is lying on the floor, her heroics lost to posterity.  In action photography (which in the realm of family photography includes capturing that delighted grin when something special happens that lights up a child’s face), capturing the moment is all about timing, both the photographer’s and the camera’s. 

 

Improving one’s ability to freeze the moment requires practice, certainly, but also entails understanding your equipment.  To this end, take time to play with your camera, paying attention to how long it takes to actually open the shutter after you push the button.  Get a feel for that delay, and learn to incorporate it into your timing.  It may feel awkward at first to “rush the shot,” pushing the shutter-release button before you actually want the image to be taken, but with practice it will begin to feel more natural, and the results will be much closer to what you were trying to achieve with the image in the first place.  Find something to practice on: try to capture the pendulum of a clock at its zenith, or go to a dog park and try to freeze the Frisbee-catching dogs mid-snag.  If you have children with lots of energy to burn (before they become human tornadoes inside the house), try this one: count to three and have them jump up into the air.  Aim to capture them in mid-leap.  Hint: depending upon the duration of your shutter delay, it is often advantageous for you to press the shutter release on “three,” even though they shouldn’t jump until the next count: “one – two – three (press the shutter release) – jump!”

 

The solution to shutter-delay frustration is straightforward: be aware of it, know how long the delay is in your camera, and practice.  That’s it.  Nonetheless, many people don’t get the images they want because they haven’t taken the time to get really comfortable with this unfortunate feature of their digital camera.  Take a little time, practice, and watch how quickly you become the envy of the neighborhood with your amazing action shots.

 

Happy shooting!

 

 

Don’t Forget to Enter Our “Get the Word Out” Event

 

There is still time to get your name in the hat for a free limited edition print!  You will be entered in the drawing once for subscribing to our newsletter, and once for liking us on Facebook, so be sure to like us and double your chances to win.  Remember, the drawing will only be held if we get either 75 subscribers to our newsletter or 100 fans on Facebook, so tell all your friends, too.  The deadline to enter is June 17, 2011.  For full rules and to see the winner’s choice of images, see April’s newsletter, or go to our blog.

 

 

May’s Fun Fact

 

May 15 is National Peace Officer’s Day.  In honor of the men and women who serve in this often thankless role, this month we look at the symbol of the goal they are striving to achieve: peace.  That symbol, of course, is the white dove.

 

* White doves are also known as Sacred White Doves, or Java Doves.

* Female doves are dams, males are sires.

          * The white doves that are occasionally released at weddings to symbolize love are not actually doves.  They are white homing pigeons.

          * The dove with an olive branch in its beak, a symbol of truce, comes from the Biblical tale of Noah.  A dove returned to Noah with an olive branch in its beak, proving to Noah that the waters of the Great Flood had receded, and land was once again above water.

          * Doves drink in a unique manner.  They put their beak into water and suck, as if drinking from a straw.  Most birds cannot do this, but rather take a small sip of water into their beak, then tilt their head back to swallow.

          * It is thought that the Mesopotamians first domesticated the dove around 3000 BC.

          * The dove was one of the sacred animals of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love.

 

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - April 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

April, 2011 

 

Like us on Facebook and Enter Our “Get the Word Out!” Event

To help spread the word about City Escapes Nature Photography, we have decided to hold a little contest – and the lucky winner gets one of our unframed limited edition prints!  Here’s how it works: we want 100 people to “like” us on Facebook and/or 75 people to subscribe to our newsletter by Friday, June 17^th.  If we reach that goal, everyone who has “liked” us or subscribed to our newsletter^* will get their name put into a random drawing for their choice of either “Mississippi Silhouette -- Live Oak” or “Neighbors -- Lilac-breasted Roller and Elephant” -  the two images featured in this month’s newsletter. It’s that easy!  Here’s a bonus: if you both “like” us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter, your name gets entered in the drawing twice!  Everyone who has already “liked” us or who is currently subscribed is automatically entered – but don’t forget to double your chance of winning by doing both!

The winner will be drawn at random from all qualifying entries on Saturday, June 18^th, and will be notified via e-mail or Facebook no later than July 1^st.  But remember, no one wins if we don’t meet our goal, so tell all your friends about us, too!  We’ll even make it easy for you: to like us on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172 .

Since you’re getting this newsletter, we already know that you are part of the in-crowd and don’t need to know how to subscribe.  However, your not-yet-in-the-know friends might!  So to help them out, send them to http://cityescapesphotography.com/newsletter-popup.html and have them enter their email address. 

The winner will be announced on Facebook and in our July newsletter.  Good luck!

^*City Escapes Nature Photography values your privacy.  We do not now, nor will we ever, sell your personal information to any outside party.  We hate it when other companies do it to us, so we’re not about to do it to you!

 

The Nitty Gritty (i.e., the rules):

-      At least 100 people must “like” City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC on Facebook and/or 75 people must subscribe to the City Escapes Nature Photography monthly newsletter no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on June 17^th, 2011, in order for the drawing to occur.

-      Prize will be an unframed, signed, limited edition print of winner’s choice of either an 8”x 9” “Neighbors – Lilac-breasted Roller & Elephant” or an 8”x 12” “Mississippi Silhouette – Live Oak.” 

-      All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on June 17^th, 2011.  Any entries received after that will not be eligible to win.

-      Each entrant may enter twice: once by “liking” City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC on Facebook, and once by subscribing to the City Escapes Nature Photography monthly newsletter. Any additional entries (e.g. subscribing to the newsletter through multiple email addresses) will not be considered.

-      Drawing will be held June 18^th, 2011, and the winner will be notified via e-mail or Facebook no later than July 1^st, 2011.

-      Winner must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States of America.

-      Winner must provide a valid U.S. shipping address in order to claim prize. Prize will not be shipped internationally.

-      Prize can only be shipped to winner, not to a third party.

-      City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC will pay shipping costs to deliver prize to winner (ground shipping only).

-      Winner grants City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC the right to use their name, prize selection, and city and state of residence for promotional purposes.

-      Prize cannot be exchanged for cash or credit toward another print, canvas, or other product.

-      City Escapes will not frame the prize.

-      Employees of City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

-      If winner is unable or unwilling to accept prize, a second random drawing will be held on or before July 15^th, 2011.  All rules apply equally to second or any subsequent drawings associated with this contest.

-      Entries have no cash value.

-      Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received.

-      Questions about this drawing should be directed to contests@cityescapesphotography.com

 

 

April’s Fun Facts

 

It’s finally springtime!  And to celebrate, we’re looking at an animal for whom love is frequently in the air: the bunny rabbit.

 

·        Bunnies can make a purring sound similar to a cat.  However, unlike cats, whose purr originates in the throat, a bunny’s purr results from the animal quickly and softly grinding its teeth together.

·        Because of the position of the rabbit’s eyes in its skull, a rabbit can see behind and above itself without moving its head – but it has a blind spot under its nose.

·        The longest ears ever recorded on a rabbit were 31 inches long.

 

 

If you have any questions, or suggestions for future newsletters, please email us at: relationships@cityescapesphotography.com

 

Become a fan on Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

 

CITY ESCAPES Nature Photography, LLC

www.cityescapesphotography.com

509-396-5154

 

Enter the City Escapes Nature Photography “Get the Word Out!” Event

To help spread the word about City Escapes Nature Photography, we have decided to hold a little contest – and the lucky winner gets one of our unframed limited edition prints!  Here’s how it works: we want 100 people to “like” us on Facebook and/or 75 people to subscribe to our newsletter by Friday, June 17^th.  If we reach that goal, everyone who has “liked” us or subscribed to our newsletter^* will get their name put into a random drawing for their choice of either “Mississippi Silhouette -- Live Oak” or “Neighbors -- Lilac-breasted Roller and Elephant” -  the two images featured in this month’s newsletter. It’s that easy!  Here’s a bonus: if you both “like” us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter, your name gets entered in the drawing twice!  Everyone who has already “liked” us or who is currently subscribed is automatically entered – but don’t forget to double your chance of winning by doing both!

The winner will be drawn at random from all qualifying entries on Saturday, June 18^th, and will be notified via e-mail or Facebook no later than July 1^st.  But remember, no one wins if we don’t meet our goal, so tell all your friends about us, too! 

We’ll even make it easy for you:

·         To like us on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Escapes-Nature-Photography/119004291172

·         To subscribe to our newsletter, go to http://cityescapesphotography.com/newsletter-popup.html and enter your email address. You can also browse old newsletters at http://groups.google.com/group/city-escapes-newsletter

The winner will be announced on Facebook and in our July newsletter.  Good luck!

 

The Nitty Gritty (i.e., the rules):

-      At least 100 people must “like” City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC on Facebook and/or 75 people must subscribe to the City Escapes Nature Photography monthly newsletter no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on June 17^th, 2011, in order for the drawing to occur.

-      Prize will be an unframed, signed, limited edition print of winner’s choice of either an 8”x 9” “Neighbors – Lilac-breasted Roller & Elephant” or an 8”x 12” “Mississippi Silhouette – Live Oak.” 

-      All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on June 17^th, 2011.  Any entries received after that will not be eligible to win.

-      Each entrant may enter twice: once by “liking” City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC on Facebook, and once by subscribing to the City Escapes Nature Photography monthly newsletter. Any additional entries (e.g. subscribing to the newsletter through multiple email addresses) will not be considered.

-      Drawing will be held June 18^th, 2011, and the winner will be notified via e-mail or Facebook no later than July 1^st, 2011.

-      Winner must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States of America.

-      Winner must provide a valid U.S. shipping address in order to claim prize. Prize will not be shipped internationally.

-      Prize can only be shipped to winner, not to a third party.

-      City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC will pay shipping costs to deliver prize to winner (ground shipping only).

-      Winner grants City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC the right to use their name, prize selection, and city and state of residence for promotional purposes.

-      Prize cannot be exchanged for cash or credit toward another print, canvas, or other product.

-      City Escapes will not frame the prize.

-      Employees of City Escapes Nature Photography, LLC and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

-      If winner is unable or unwilling to accept prize, a second random drawing will be held on or before July 15^th, 2011.  All rules apply equally to second or any subsequent drawings associated with this contest.

-      Entries have no cash value.

-      Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received.

-      Questions about this drawing should be directed to contests@cityescapesphotography.com

 

^*City Escapes Nature Photography values your privacy.  We do not now, nor will we ever, sell your personal information to any outside party.  We hate it when other companies do it to us, so we’re not about to do it to you!

 

 

The Many Advantages of Off-Season Park Exploration

I freely admit that I am an unabashed supporter of national and state parks.  I was introduced to state parks as a child when my family went camping and fishing, and to national parks at the age of 13 on a whirlwind, family tour of some of the West’s most famous parks: The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia, Yellowstone.  I have been hooked ever since, and have been fortunate enough to be able to visit a variety of parks in several seasons, not just peak tourist season.  This has only increased my affection for these parks.

 

For many people, especially families with school-aged children, one of the constraints on travel opportunities is the school calendar.  Summer is a big travel season precisely because the kids are out of school.  The weather is often nicer in the summer, too.  These two factors combine to cram large numbers of visitors to the parks in a relatively short time frame.  But if you have the opportunity to visit our glorious parks in the off-season, I highly recommend it.  Here’s why.

 

First of all, most of the parks will be considerably less crowded during the off-season.  After all, you visit these beautiful oases to enjoy nature and the outdoors, not throngs of other people.  Yellowstone and Yosemite, for example, can become parking lots in the height of summer (and not just because of animal jams); traveling through them can cause more stress than it relieves.  Especially if you are a crowd-averse person, you will enjoy the parks immensely more during the less popular times of year.  Because of the decreased demand, lodging, airfare, and rental cars are generally less expensive during the off-season, sometimes considerably so.  Even shifting your plans by as little as a week can sometimes make a huge difference in the overall cost of your trip.  (My husband and I saved approximately $900 each on plane tickets a few years ago by shifting our departure date by a single day.  That one day took us out of summer season rates and put us into off-season rates.)  And, of course, gasoline is generally at its most expensive during the high-travel season, namely summer.

 

My favorite reason to visit parks in the off-season, however, is that you get to experience the park in ways that most people do not.  There is no question that the red rock formations of southern Utah, for example, are gorgeous – anyone who has seen a photograph of them is bound to be struck by the colors of the rocks.  Seeing those same rocks capped with snow, however, is an entirely different experience altogether.  Watching the bison in Yellowstone graze on the plentiful grasses of summertime can lead a visitor to think these majestic animals have it pretty easy.  When the temperature hovers around zero and you are in near white-out conditions caused by an icy wind whipping across the landscape, however, and you watch these same animals push aside three or four feet of snow with their heads to get to the meager scraps of grass below, you go back to your cozy hotel room amazed that any of them survive the winter at all.  And you are thankful for your warm dinner in a way that you could never be in the summer.

 

Sometimes snow is not the biggest off-season weather change, though; many parts of the country do not get snow on any regular basis.  In these areas, the off-season sometimes means rain.  While rain requires its own preparations, it can be fantastic; rain can completely alter the mood of a landscape.  Waterfalls in the rain are some of my favorite things to photograph, in part because it is something we so rarely see; most waterfall photographs are taken on beautiful, sunny days.  The moodiness of a waterfall in the rain is something few people experience, and it captivates me.

 

The off-season does not automatically mean bad weather, however.  Bright, gorgeous, sunny days happen in winter, too, and they can lend a compelling energy to a park visit.  Crisp, cool days with bright blue skies are at the heart of the concept of the “winter wonderland,” and that concept is not restricted to ski resorts.

 

If you’re not interested in the cold or getting rained or snowed on, however, then the spring and the fall are your seasons.  The landscape comes alive in spring with new plant life, while rivers and lakes are often at their fullest.  If it’s early enough in the season, the bugs have not yet become a problem, while in late fall they are no longer a problem.  Fall ushers back in the cool weather and the brilliant palettes of autumn leaves.  In some parts of the country, both spring and fall bring with them much more comfortable – and safer – temperatures than summer, as well.  The Grand Canyon and similar parks get dangerously hot in the summer, with the mercury soaring well into the 120s or above in some of the canyons.  Hikers frequently underestimate either the heat or its effect on their bodies, routinely getting themselves into trouble.  Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death are not uncommon.  Visiting the Canyon in the spring or fall can greatly reduce the dangers of heat-related illness.  (Be sure to check with the visitor center in any canyon-containing park if you plan to hike, however.  Find out if the park has flash-flood prone areas, and what the weather forecast will be.  Slot canyons are gorgeous and much more fun to hike in cooler weather, but can turn deadly quickly in rainstorms.)

 

If animals are your thing, the off-season offers wonders that you will likely not get during the summer.  Many species give birth during the spring, meaning that your best opportunity to see baby animals at their youngest is during this time.  Be patient and keep a sharp eye; youngsters are often quite well camouflaged.  The fall brings the rutting season for many ungulates, and while you want to give them a wide berth, watching the males vie for mating rights is nothing if not impressive (in a painful, sympathetic-headache inducing way).  And in winter, you may get a glimpse of the real reason moose have such long, spindly legs.  (Hint: it’s not just to make them look funny.)  Add to that the burst of spring flowers, the brilliance of fall foliage, or the surreal blanket of winter’s white, and you will have an experience quite different from, but no less extraordinary than, one in the height of summer.

 

Jodi

City Escapes Nature Photography

 

 

 

City Escapes Nature Photography Newsletter - Mar. 2011

CITY ESCAPES

Nature Photography, LLC

 

 

Newsletter

March, 2011

 

The Many Advantages of Off-Season Park Exploration

 

I freely admit that I am an unabashed supporter of national and state parks.  I was introduced to state parks as a child when my family went camping and fishing, and to national parks at the age of 13 on a whirlwind, family tour of some of the West’s most famous parks: The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia, Yellowstone.  I have been hooked ever since, and have been fortunate enough to be able to visit a variety of parks in several seasons, not just peak tourist season.  This has only increased my affection for these parks.

 

For many people, especially families with school-aged children, one of the constraints on travel opportunities is the school calendar.  Summer is a big travel season precisely because the kids are out of school.  The weather is often nicer in the summer, too.  These two factors combine to cram large numbers of visitors to the parks in a relatively short time frame.  But if you have the opportunity to visit our glorious parks in the off-season, I highly recommend it.  Here’s why.

 

First of all, most of the parks will be considerably less crowded during the off-season.  After all, you visit these beautiful oases to enjoy nature and the outdoors, not throngs of other people.  Yellowstone and Yosemite, for example, can become parking lots in the height of summer (and not just because of animal jams); traveling through them can cause more stress than it relieves.  Especially if you are a crowd-averse person, you will enjoy the parks immensely more during the less popular times of year.  Because of the decreased demand, lodging, airfare, and rental cars are generally less expensive during the off-season, sometimes considerably so.  Even shifting your plans by as little as a week can sometimes make a huge difference in the overall cost of your trip.  (My husband and I saved approximately $900 each on plane tickets a few years ago by shifting our departure date by a single day.  That one day took us out of summer season rates and put us into off-season rates.)  And, of course, gasoline is generally at its most expensive during the high-travel season, namely summer.

 

My favorite reason to visit parks in the off-season, however, is that you get to experience the park in ways that most people do not.  There is no question that the red rock formations of southern Utah, for example, are gorgeous – anyone who has seen a photograph of them is bound to be struck by the colors of the rocks.  Seeing those same rocks capped with snow, however, is an entirely different experience altogether.  Watching the bison in Yellowstone graze on the plentiful grasses of summertime can lead a visitor to think these majestic animals have it pretty easy.  When the temperature hovers around zero and you are in near white-out conditions caused by an icy wind whipping across the landscape, however, and you watch these same animals push aside three or four feet of snow with their heads to get to the meager scraps of grass below, you go back to your cozy hotel room amazed that any of them survive the winter at all.  And you are thankful for your warm dinner in a way that you could never be in the summer.

 

Sometimes snow is not the biggest off-season weather change, though; many parts of the country do not get snow on any regular basis.  In these areas, the off-season sometimes means rain.  While rain requires its own preparations, it can be fantastic; rain can completely alter the mood of a landscape.  Waterfalls in the rain are some of my favorite things to photograph, in part because it is something we so rarely see; most waterfall photographs are taken on beautiful, sunny days.  The moodiness of a waterfall in the rain is something few people experience, and it captivates me.

 

The off-season does not automatically mean bad weather, however.  Bright, gorgeous, sunny days happen in winter, too, and they can lend a compelling energy to a park visit.  Crisp, cool days with bright blue skies are at the heart of the concept of the “winter wonderland,” and that concept is not restricted to ski resorts.

 

If you’re not interested in the cold or getting rained or snowed on, however, then the spring and the fall are your seasons.  The landscape comes alive in spring with new plant life, while rivers and lakes are often at their fullest.  If it’s early enough in the season, the bugs have not yet become a problem, while in late fall they are no longer a problem.  Fall ushers back in the cool weather and the brilliant palettes of autumn leaves.  In some parts of the country, both spring and fall bring with them much more comfortable – and safer – temperatures than summer, as well.  The Grand Canyon and similar parks get dangerously hot in the summer, with the mercury soaring well into the 120s or above in some of the canyons.  Hikers frequently underestimate either the heat or its effect on their bodies, routinely getting themselves into trouble.  Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death are not uncommon.  Visiting the Canyon in the spring or fall can greatly reduce the dangers of heat-related illness.  (Be sure to check with the visitor center in any canyon-containing park if you plan to hike, however.  Find out if the park has flash-flood prone areas, and what the weather forecast will be.  Slot canyons are gorgeous and much more fun to hike in cooler weather, but can turn deadly quickly in rainstorms.)

 

If animals are your thing, the off-season offers wonders that you will likely not get during the summer.  Many species give birth during the spring, meaning that your best opportunity to see baby animals at their youngest is during this time.  Be patient and keep a sharp eye; youngsters are often quite well camouflaged.  The fall brings the rutting season for many ungulates, and while you want to give them a wide berth, watching the males vie for mating rights is nothing if not impressive (in a painful, sympathetic-headache inducing way).  And in winter, you may get a glimpse of the real reason moose have such long, spindly legs.  (Hint: it’s not just to make them look funny.)  Add to that the burst of spring flowers, the brilliance of fall foliage, or the surreal blanket of winter’s white, and you will have an experience quite different from, but no less extraordinary than, one in the height of summer.

 

 

March’s Fun Facts

 

In honor of this month’s fun celebration of all things green and Irish, let’s take a look at some interesting tid-bits about four-leaf clovers.

 

·         About 1 in 10,000 clovers has four leaves.

·         The four leaves symbolize luck (the most well known “trait” of a four-leaf clover), faith, love and hope.

·         Irish lore holds that St. Patrick used the three leaves of a regular clover to explain the Holy Trinity: one leaf each for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  When a fourth leaf was present, it represented God’s Grace.

·         The fourth leaf on a clover is usually smaller than the other three.

·         The current world record holder for most four-leaf clovers found is Edward Martin Sr. of Alaska.  In May of 2007, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records with his collection of 111,060 of the lucky charms – and he had only been collecting them for eight years!

·         Four is not the limit on clover leaves.  The current record for most leaves found on a single clover is twenty-one.

 

 

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