Honorable Mention: Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park {Catch-Up}

Half Dome through a rose-colored lens

trazzler.com contest deadline of March 14, 2012

This received honorable mention for both photography and writing.

Half Dome is the quinessential Yosemite icon. It's hard to miss. Hikers volley for permits to ascend the dome and reservations are snatched up within minutes. I've taken long shots of the dome from Inspiration Point, I've taken shots off the top after climbing up the backside of the beast, but my favorite view of this geological enigma is from Glacier Point. At sunset. It's almost as if the setting sun shines a spotlight on Half Dome; it's the last thing illuminated in the valley before the sun completely disappears for the day. And even when it's beyond the horizon, you can still sit and watch the sky turn an entire painter's palette worth of colors—from rosy pink to deepest indigo.

Writing Honorable Mention: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park {Catch-Up}

Best Campsites in California

trazzler.com contest deadline of March 7, 2012

Clinging to the cliffs south of Big Sur is one of the state parks that bears the name "Pfeiffer." This park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, is a family favorite for two reasons: first, McWay Waterfall, a frothy white stream that drops from a steep cliff to a turquoise cove below; second, two of the most secluded state-run campsites you will find. Ever. Don't be fooled into booking a spot at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. It's not the same place. Julia Pfeiffer Burns's campsites are accessible only by hike. It's a short hike, but it is steep—downhill going in and uphill coming out. So, pack lightly or bring a wheelbarrow. When I was fortunate enough to book both sites for my son's birthday camping trip one year, we picked up the parking tags from the wilderness station and the ranger asked, incredulously, "How did you get the two best campsites in California on a holiday weekend?!" Lots of planning and a little luck.

Writing Honorable Mention: Jacks Peak County Park {Catch-Up}

Honorable Mention in Writing

trazzler.com contest deadline of February 15, 2012

Pristine Stand of Pinus Radiata
Perched at the highest point on the Monterey Peninsula, Jacks Peak County Park offers sweeping vistas from Moss Landing to Carmel, fossils from the Miocene, and one of the last remaining natural stands of Monterey pines in the continental United States. The Skyline Nature Trail, at less than a mile, is a nice way to stretch your legs and get a glimpse at the local flora. But for the more ambitious choose a longer trail, grab your camera, fill a water bottle, and take a Claritin because if you hit the trails on a windy day, you will leave dusted with yellow pollen from those towering pines.

Writing Honorable Mention {Catch-Up}: Picchetti Winery

Honorable Mention in Writing at trazzler.com - for their February 1, 2012 deadline.

You do not happen upon Picchetti Winery by chance. You drive there with purpose—and with direction—winding up into the rolling hills above Cupertino, curve after curve. Once you get there, you don't want to leave. Rustic barn doors reveal a tasting room full of wood—wooden tables, wooden barrels, a wooden bar—and warmth. Grab a bottle, or two, and picnic on the lawn, or uncork their '08 zin and take a stroll on the Zinfandel Trail.