No Easy Answers for Restoring Mirante da Granja Guarani in Teresopolis

Woman in yellow poncho standing in abandoned Mirante da Granja Guarani in Teresopolis, Brazil.

The Mirante da Granja Guarani (aka Quiosque das Lendas) in Teresópolis , Brazil, may be abandoned and in ruins, but the historic site still draws tourists to this vibrant community north of Rio de Janeiro. ⁣⁣
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Local sports director Arnaldo Guinle (1884 – 1963) financed the building of the open air structure in 1929 and had it faced with tiles worked by the Portuguese ceramist Jorge Colaço (1868 – 1942), who painted the tiles in Lisbon. ⁣⁣

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Charon’s Garden Trail – Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Woman sitting cross-legged overlooking the Valley of Boulders in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

I’d seen so many hiking blog posts, comments and videos surrounding the difficulty of the Valley of Boulders portion of Charon’s Garden Trail, by the time we’d reached the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma I’d almost completely psyched myself out.

On the other hand, I had also seen photos of children navigating parts of the boulder field with ease, so how hard could it be? We’d know for sure if we could cross it the moment the “Apple and Pear” rock formation on the west side of Elk Mountain came into view. I’d given us a 50/50 chance of making it through.

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39 Perfect Gifts for Hikers – 2020

Woman hiker displaying gifts for hikers Zomake backpack PowerTalkie off grid communicator in Wichita Mountains.

What gift do you get for the hiker in your life who has everything?

Well … nothing I guess. I mean, if they have everything already, maybe they should be buying things for you.

But for those with hiking friends and loved ones who don’t have everything, this hiking gifts guide is perfect for the holidays and special occasions!

So what are the best gifts for hikers? Here are our field-tested favorites we use ourselves.

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Brum Woods, Batesville, Indiana

Woman hiking in autumn wooded area, Brum Woods, Batesville, Indiana.

Brum Woods is a small network of well-maintained multi-use trails on the southwest side of the city of Batesville in Indiana.

Lena Brum (1900-1993) was opposed to Batesville development and denied many offers for her land, and she left the property to the city upon her death. In turn, the city honored her wishes for preservation and created a fine park for the public to enjoy.

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