We visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park twice—first in July 2021 during the Independence Day weekend and again in April 2022, this time accompanied by family members from all three generations. Across these visits, we explored scenic drives, waterfalls, peaceful forest trails, and historic areas within the park. The park’s easy accessibility and variety of… Continue reading
We visited Yosemite National Park over a 2-day Memorial Day weekend trip in May 2022, staying at Yosemite Gatekeeper’s Lodge in El Portal, a convenient place just a few miles from the park. Day 1 We started early from San Francisco and drove to Yosemite. Our first stop was Bridalveil Fall near Tunnel View. The… Continue reading
Anchored by the sacred Arunachaleswarar Temple and the timeless presence of Arunachala Hill, our 3-day pilgrimage to Tiruvannamalai in January 2024 was a deeply spiritual experience. Day 1 – Arrival, Darshan, and the Sacred Girivalam We arrived in Tiruvannamalai on a January afternoon after a 4-hour drive from Chennai. The town was vibrant, with the… Continue reading
Undertaking the sacred pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave (12,756 ft) had long been on our spiritual bucket list. In the second week of July, 2019, we finally embarked on this divine journey from Chennai, with the tour arranged by SOTC Travel Limited (Chennai). This journey turned out to be especially significant in hindsight. Within a couple… Continue reading
Between September and December 2022, we undertook one of the most spiritually fulfilling journeys, visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas across India. We completed the yatra in phases, using Chennai as our base and covering different states over multiple trips. Each destination was not just a temple visit, but often combined with nearby cultural and historical landmarks… Continue reading
We visited Rocky Mountain National Park twice—first in June 2023 as part of our Colorado national parks trip, and again in May 2025. Visit 1 – June 2023 (2½ Days in the Park) Bear Lake Trail (0.7 mile) This easy walk around Bear Lake offered peaceful views of the surrounding mountains reflected in the water…. Continue reading
Zion National Park was the first major stop on our memorable road trip covering the five Utah national parks, Death Valley National Park, and Antelope Canyon. After flying into Las Vegas, we drove to Springdale, the little town just outside Zion, where we stayed overnight before beginning our exploration. Day 1 Zion Visitor Center &… Continue reading
We had visited Grand Teton National Park twice so far. Our first visit was in August 2021. Our second visit was in June 2025. Both trips offered different experiences. August 2021 Visit (1½ Days) Day 1 We stopped at several scenic lookouts inside the park. Each viewpoint offered clear views of the Teton Range. We… Continue reading
Our Vienna City walk, Two-capital tour, and Sound of Music memories During our trips between India and the United States, we usually take a short break in Europe. This year, we spent a couple of days in Frankfurt during our outward journey. On the way back, we stayed in Vienna for a few days. We… Continue reading
A Combined 1½-Day Itinerary from Our 2021 and 2022 Visits Visit 1 – September 10, 2021 Drive from Seattle A scenic drive from Seattle brought us to Mount Rainier National Park, with the mountain dominating the skyline as we approached. Henry Jackson Visitor Center / Paradise Our first stop was Paradise, known for its meadows… Continue reading