Just outside Hilo is one of the most famous waterfalls on the Big Island, Rainbow Falls.

The eastern side of the Big Island of Hawai'i, the Hilo side, is a whole other world...

The west coast/Kona side of the Big Island, where we stayed, is very different from the east coast/Hilo side.

Emily Lehnert Photography

After 2 1/2 years of planning and some major disappointments along the way, our Gray family Hawaii vacation to celebrate our 40th anniversary milestone finally happened this summer.

You can't visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming without seeing big herds of wild elk.

Our first morning in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we got up at the crack of dawn to see the early morning light on the Teton Mountains.

Waking up to 4" of fresh snow this morning in Indiana (yes, on April 21!) took me back to the last time I saw significant snow on the ground, on the last few days of our Yellowstone/Grand Tetons trip back in late February.

Before Easter, I made a quickie trip to Florida to touch base with my youngest sister Maria.

It was a bit chilly the morning we left Yellowstone to head south for a couple of days in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

While the mammals are Yellowstone's wildlife stars, there sure are some beautiful birds hanging around too.