Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, December 26, 2011,
I had a fantastic year of travel. It was probably one of the best ever for me. And with it came recognition as one of the best travel blogs of 2011 by Washington Flyer. To sum up my annual adventures in a single story is like writing about your own year,  everything that has happened to you - all of the ups and downs and round and rounds - in just a couple of pages. It isn't easy. But for that opportunity, looking back on my year, I am most certainly thankful. Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Wednesday, September 14, 2011,
It is no secret that I love the national parks of the United States. I make it a point to go to as many as I can each year, driving to most thanks to my parallel love of road trips. And after seeing so many impressive places through the years, I figured it was high time I put together a list of the locations in the western United States which touched me the most. The impressive natural beauty, peaceful nature, and uniqueness of these spots ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, July 14, 2011,
There is so much to see in Death Valley National Park that it is a wonder anyone would need a day trip out to see anything else. Yet, there are some sites that are worthy of distraction from the largest national park in the continental United States. Many heads would naturally turn to the east, directing their eyes to the bright lights of Las Vegas, but mine turned back to the west and into the interior of California.
Just a short drive to the west from Death Valley National P... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Wednesday, July 13, 2011,
I stood at the edge of the Dantes View overlook soaking in one last moment at Death Valley National Park. The valley floor, covered in salt sediment, sprawled out before me from south to north; I was 5,475 feet above sea level. I wanted one last moment with the park, however fleeting, before I continued my drive east to Las Vegas. The previous day had been good and I wanted to remember it and wish for a quick return.  I climbed the Panamint Mountains (above) early t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, May 16, 2011,
The eastern side of California continued to attract me. But, instead of driving through the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite National Park, I turned the wheel of my car toward Joshua Tree National Park. I knew it was greatly different from the parks to the north of it, but knew virtually nothing about the place and was hungry to learn more. I sped across the desert, wondering if I'd make the next gas station. I had left San Diego with a full tank, but was nearly empty as ...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, May 5, 2011,
I had to sell a vital organ to be able to afford admission to the San Diego Zoo, but it was worth it. I loved walking the pathways, watching the animals, and considering the ever-chaning internal debate of which animal I would be if I weren't a person. I always thought a polar bear, as have oth  ers, but I think my sister may have hit the nail on the head with a correction halfway through our visit. Once again, we woke up earlier than I would normally appreciate. But, this time it...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, May 2, 2011,
I only allowed myself two days to drop into San Deigo and visit with my sister and her family. Her sons were not yet on spring break and I didn't want to disrupt their classes. Yet, it seemed foolish to drive all the way to California from Colorado and not stop by to say hello for at least a couple of days. So, after long drive down from Yosemite National Park, I dropped in and spent a weekend with the family. 
We woke up early by my standards on Saturday morning, took in the boys' basebal...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, April 18, 2011,
I stood at the Valley View overlook and felt a twinge of disappointment. The view was one of the most impressive I had witnessed during my short stay in the Yosemite Valley, but I was disheartened nonetheless. And it had nothing to do with my departure. It was because I failed at my attempt to hike to the top of the highest waterfall in North America, the Yosemite Falls. It angered me that I couldn't complete the hike, unlike others who I'm sure did on the same day, and I ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Friday, April 8, 2011,
We were stuck near the top of the hill, awaiting to be rescued. Those in charge radioed for help, which didn't seem to be far away. As a matter of fact, it was just down at the bottom of the hill. A big hill. None of the passengers seemed to care, though, since we were seated comfortably on our wooden benches enjoying an extended trolley ride through the streets of San Francisco. As far as we were concerned, help could be across the Golden Gate, since waiting was far better than walking the h... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, April 4, 2011,
In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt camped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the south side of the Yosemite Valley at a place called Glacier Point. Three years later he signed a bill creating Yosemite National Park (above). It was to be approximately three-quarters of a million acres in protected wilderness. With Roosevelt on the camping trip was naturalist, preservationist, and co-founder of the Sierra Club, John Muir. I wanted to learn more about John Muir, so...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, February 10, 2011,
For years now, I've been counting all of the counties I visit as I go through each state. I used to do this with the help of an online program, but quickly became disinterested in it and reverted to the old method of highlighting a printed map. It may not be the fanciest of ways, but it's what I like since I can do it while on the go. And I've done this for the last several trips I've taken, including the one for my book. 
I've laid things out on my kitchen table, as I prepare to ...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, December 23, 2010,
I always have a difficult time in narrowing down where I'm going to travel each year. But, this year everything seems to be planning itself. I have three trips in the planning stages that I'm  incredibly excited about, and that's only for the first half of 2011. I can only imagine what the rest of the year will bring, but if it's nothing beyond what I already have planned I can guarantee no one will hear a peep of a complaint out of me. I definitely feel much more fortunate to have t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Tuesday, August 18, 2009,
Judo traveling is none like any other that I've ever experienced. It really is in a blur. And there's no one that I've heard from in the judo community that has told me otherwise.  I hear of all of these great places that judo folks have been, but so often they never see the differing and interesting culture. Many times it's a fly in and a fly out situation. And after the last couple of days, I understand it better. I had wondered so many times before about why they did that to themselves, bu... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Tuesday, August 18, 2009,
I spent this past weekend in the Los Angeles area visiting my girlfriend and seeing the sights. It was my second time in L.A., but my first being able to get out an do anything since my first trip was for a day for a judo competition. This time I wanted to be able to see a bit of what the town was about and what it was like out there.
On our first day we went to Disneyland. As a Disney employee, Amy was able to get us into the park for free, which was a big bonus considering I was trying...
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