Greg Aiello shares some mountain biking tips.
OK let's face it. Death Valley isn't exactly a great marketing name, but if you haven't bothered considering DV as a place to visit, you really are missing out. Death Valley is the largest National Park in the lower 48 and is home to the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. But there is so much more to this enormous part of southern California that deserves closer inspection.
Geocaching is an activity that is spreading like wildfire around the world. It's basically a high-tech treasure hunt using a GPS (Global Positioning Unit) and a home computer. A cache is a usually small box or container filled with trinkets, odds and ends and other items of little value. A logbook or register is also included so that 'cachers' can record their visit to a particular geocache.
Flat-water kayaking is an amazing way to enjoy some of the most scenic places in the country -- lakes, bays and estuaries.
Our national parks are treasures for all of us to enjoy and Yosemite Valley is no exception. Carved by ancient glaciers and home to some of the most extraordinary scenic views you will find anywhere on earth
There's much more to California than the lights, camera, action of Hollywood and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. While both LA and the Bay Area are great, there's nothing like the laid-back style and scenic beauty of California's Central Coast.
Yosemite National Park is home to many scenic wonders but one stands out as spring snow-melt fills the rivers with water. Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world at nearly 2,500 feet and as the water explodes from the brink of Yosemite Valley's north wall, it thunders into the rocks below, echoing through the entire valley.
Point Reyes National Seashore is a 70,000 acre park preserve located just north of San Francisco along the California coast. This largely overlooked treasure of the Bay Area is one of the best spots we've ever seen for hiking trails, wildlife, solitude and scenic beauty. This entire stretch of California coast is frozen in time. You won't find any roads, cars, buildings or anything else that resembles civilization. This is the California coastline raw, wild and rugged.
Car camping is an excellent way to get outdoors with friends and family without strapping on a backpack and venturing into the wild. With car-camping, many of homes 'creature comforts' can come along for the ride, making your time 'roughing it' not so rough. With a little extra effort and a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you can escape the crowded campsites everyone knows about and venture into places away from it all for a camp experience you'll never forget!
Mono Lake in California is one million years old. It was once the biggest pond in North America. It is about 60 times smaller today but it is still a great place to explore. Underwater springs bubbled up from the lake-bed seeping minerals into the super-salty waters of Mono Lake slowly creating limestone towers. South Tufa is a photographer's dream, so don't forget the camera and try to aim for an early or late visit as the light will be best for pictures and the crowds will be gone.
The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway is a 100 mile loop drive into the heart of the majestic Sierra-Nevada mountain range in central California. The drive will take you from rolling foothills to alpine forests. You will see incredible views of the Sierra Crest. It is an excellent way to see the Sierra back country all from the comfort of your car. But if you're up for a little adventure, the numerous trails and hikes that you can hit from the byway will make this your new favorite way to experience the high Sierra.
The Owens Valley in California is home to a rugged landscape sculpted by wind, ice and time. In the historic valley, you will find a river that has continued to flow in spite of a long and controversial battle and a forest home to the oldest living trees on earth.
The Channel Islands sit just 20 miles off the coast of southern California but once you visit them, you'll feel a world away. A one-hour ferry ride from Ventura Harbor will transport you to Santa Cruz Island...the largest in the chain. Here, visitors can camp overnight in one of the campgrounds or you can visit for the day. Hiking trails twist throughout the eastern side of Santa Cruz Island and will take you to incredible sea cliffs, open highlands and lost coves. Sea kayaking around the Channel Islands is world renowned and Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest sea caves in the world. A guided trip along the rugged shoreline will take you deep into these caves where headlamps are needed.
North Carolina's Outer Banks are a haven for people that love the outdoors. But there's a lot more to the OB than perfect beaches, warm water and lots of sunshine. The Outer Banks are an excellent place to get away from the crowds and explore tidewater marshes teaming with wildlife, learn to fly a hang-glider over the dunes where the history of powered-flight began or to discover a wildlife refuge that has preserved the natural beauty of the Carolina coast and the animals that call it home.
Discovering the scenic beauty of back-country areas like California's Sierra Nevada Mountains doesn't have to be a rugged, long walk into the woods.
The Pocono Mountains are an outdoor-lover's dream. The mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania are populated with dense, hardwood forests, amazing waterfalls and creeks, lakes and an impressive network of hiking trails and state parks. All this is only two hours from The Big Apple, who knew?
It's known for one of the most scenic drives in the world but there's a lot more to do along California's Highway 1 and the Big Sur coast once you get out of the car. From rugged and stunning sea cliffs, secluded beaches and tidefalls to dense, coastal redwood forests, Big Sur's amazing shoreline is a outdoor-lover's dream!
Located in southern Utah and only a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, the mystic, red-rock walls of this breathtaking canyon will leave you in awe. Zion can get very crowded in the summer months but a trip there in the fall can be one you'll never forget.
When you think of Los Angeles, hiking in the great outdoors probably isn't your first thought but Greg shows you there is much more to L.A. than fancy cars and movie stars. With it's incredible geography, stunning mountains and beautiful Pacific coast, the L.A. basin is home to some great hiking just minutes from downtown. You can explore several scenic hikes while visiting L.A., including one to the famous Hollywood sign and the lost set of a popular TV show from the past!
Greg shows you how to discover the scenic beauty of Kauai away from the resort pools and fruity drinks. From the red-rock walls of Waimea Canyon to the rugged landscape of the Na Pali Coast, Kauai is an outdoor-lover's dream and the perfect place for a tropical adventure vacation.
The Big Island is the newest of the main Hawaiian Islands (geologically speaking) and is home to some of the most diverse landscapes you will find anywhere on earth!
Big Bend National Park is deep in the south Texas desert and one of the most remote National Parks in the country.
Oahu and Maui are two of the most popular destinations of all the Hawaiian Islands. But beyond the crowded beaches of Waikiki and the high-end resorts of Maui, you will find a spectacular world of remote scenic beauty, hiking, lost coastlines and dense tropical rainforest.
Lake Powell is the second largest man-made lake in America and home to 1900 miles of rugged, desert shoreline. The lake is incredibly popular with boaters and water-sports enthusiasts all summer long but as Greg shows us," there are countless places to explore into the amazing deserts of Utah along the shores of Lake Powell.
The Hawaiian Islands are a top tourist vacation in the tropics and Maui is a true jewel of the islands. But there's so much more to Maui than the fancy resorts and perfect beaches. Hiking, snorkeling and whale-watching are just a few of the way to explore new kinds of adventure on this tropical Paradise.
Greg explores one of the least known national monuments in the Golden State.
Olympic National Park is one of the largest and most diverse national parks in the U.S. Just a three-hour drive west of Seattle, Washington, Olympic National Park is home to the largest temperate rainforest in North America, rugged beaches and glacier covered valleys high in the Olympic Mountain Range. Greg shows you how the park's three main zones are different from each other by venturing into the Hoh Rainforest, walking the pristine coastline at Ruby Beach and climbing the snow covered peaks of the Olympic Mountains.
Sedona is one of the top tourism destinations in the desert southwest. But there's much more to this charming town than gift shops and art galleries. Greg shows you how to get off the beaten path and into the true spirit of Sedona that has always made this one most special places in the West.
Glacier Bay National Park is a huge, wild and pristine expanse of the Alaskan outdoors and one of the few places on Earth to see massive tidal glaciers on the move. At over three million acres, Glacier Bay is big and most visitors see this natural treasure from the deck of a cruise ship. But there's another world to discover inside the park once you step on land. Temperate rainforests, incredible wildlife and the scenic charm of coastal-Alaska can only be experienced on foot. The Glacier Bay Lodge is the only place to stay inside the park's expansive boundaries and the perfect place to begin a hike into the dense woodlands of Glacier Bay.
Greg and the crew embark on the first ever Motion Fan Hike! Ten fans join the Motion crew as they make the four-day hike from Mammoth Lakes, California to Yosemite National Park along the historic John Muir Trail. Freezing cold temps, snow, 70 mph winds and a helicopter rescue, set the stage for one of the most memorable Motion episodes ever filmed.
Kings Canyon National Park isn't as well known as its cousin-canyon to the north -- Yosemite -- but it is the deepest canyon in America and a great way to experience much of the same beauty without the crowds. Greg shows you how easy it is to hit some great hikes, see the big trees and waterfalls of Kings Canyon National Park.
Greg explores the Hawaiian island of Lana'i. Home to only one small town and the exclusive Four Seasons Resort, Lana'i is truly a private island experience like none other!
The Big Island of Hawaii is known as the "adventure island" and for good reason. From the lava flows of the Kilauea volcano to the lofty summit of Mauna Kea, the Big Island is covered with incredible places to explore. One of the most beautiful parts of Hawaii is often overlooked by tourists seeking extreme landscapes -- The Hamakua Coast. This is the north shore of the Big Island and his home to an amazing tropical jungle, rugged shoreline and hidden valleys ready to be discovered. This region, between Hilo to the south and Waimea to the north is a lush paradise covered with a dense rainforest, towering waterfalls and endless trails. Greg reveals this unforgettable part of the Big Island and shows you how easy it is to plan your own Hawaiian island adventure.
Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island is covered with a spectacular hardwood forest and its rugged coast line is filled with wildlife.
Millions of people visit Yosemite National Park in California each year but most drive right past an amazing place to hike, escape the crowds and explore -- Bass Lake. In addition to being an incredible destination on the way to Yosemite, its also Greg Aiello's hometown. Greg and his trusty Border Collie Dia take you along on some of their favorite local hikes and show you how to enjoy Bass Lake after the boats and busy crowds leave after summer. Breathtaking fall colors paint the central Sierra Nevada Mountains into the perfect backdrop as Greg highlights 3 easy, fun and beautiful hikes in his own backyard. Then, Motion showcases a great new way to capture all your outdoor fun in stunning high definition with the GoPro Hero camera. Greg puts this wearable HD camera on as he climbs Mono Rock and even Dia takes the camera for a spin!
The John Muir Trail is well over 200 miles and twists across the roof of the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. From its northern terminus in Yosemite National Park to the summit of Mt. Whitney in the south, the John Muir Trail crosses six passes over 11,000 feet and usually takes three weeks to complete. The trail was completed in 1938 and named to honor the great naturalist and 'father' of the national park system in America, John Muir. Muir is best know for helping to establish Yosemite as a national park and for founding the Sierra Club, but he spend tireless hours in the backcountry of the High Sierra mapping, writing and sketching the incredible 'Range of Light', a nickname Muir gave the Sierra because of its amazing colors and landscapes. A through-hike of the complete John Muir Trail isn't for everyone and after guiding/hiking this amazing trail over the last 10 years, Greg shows you his favorite section of the John Muir Trail that can be done by most people in 4 to 5 days through some of the most beautiful scenes you'll find along the entire route. This is the same route featured in the popular 'Fan Hike' episode of Motion but in this show Greg dives into the trip details with maps, elevations and backcountry tips to help you plan this incredible hike.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains in California are pounded every winter by strong Pacific storms. Once the skies clear, this deep snow is the perfect place for winter-time exploration and fun. Greg shows you how a ski resort, like Yosemite's Badger Pass, can be a great way to access the backcountry. Greg Aiello uses a revolutionary new snowboard that transforms into cross-country skis and checks out how the next generation of snow shoes is opening up this sport to a whole new crowd. And, you won't believe where today's snowmobiles can go. Modern advances in these amazing machines are pushing this sport into a world you have to see to believe.
Bryce Canyon National Park is another one of the 'grand slam' outdoor destinations southern Utah has to offer. From its stunning red rock amphitheater and mystic hoodoo towers to endless trails that lead into some of the most remote parts of the park, Bryce Canyon is another Motion "Must Do." But there's another side of Bryce Canyon beyond the popular and easy-to-reach overlooks that circle the rim. A hike into the hoodoos will give you a totally different kind of Bryce Canyon experience and Greg discovers a trail just outside the park that leads to a big surprise the Motion-crew didn't see coming.
In a state with so many natural wonders, Utah is an outdoor paradise. With headlining National Parks, like Bryce Canyon, Arches and Zion, Capitol Reef National Park is often overlooked or barely even known. In most of the popular parks, there's always a way to escape busy summertime crowds, but when you visit Capitol Reef in winter, the entire park is off the beaten path.
Death Valley National Park in California's Mojave Desert is one of the hottest, driest and most extreme landscapes on earth, a place where barren salt flats stretch for miles and scorching dunes form below rugged peaks. If you time it right and miss the summer heat, the wonders of this lonely desert come to life in a way you have to see to believe.
Greg explores one of America's top scenic drives between two of Utah's best national parks.
If you've ever wondered what California looked like 1,000 years ago, a trip to Carrizo Plain National Monument will take you back in time. About 250,000 acres are protected at the national monument, preserving California's largest, native remaining grasslands. From amazing wildlife to ancient signs of native people dating back 2000 years B.C., Carrizo Plain is a land frozen in time and a look into California's past that is now long gone.
It's one of the hottest, driest, places in the world and over 90 percent of this national park is designated wilderness. With a great network of backcountry roads and a local jeep rental company, we get off the beaten path to discover Death Valley's hidden secrets. From the mysterious moving rocks to long forgotten ghost towns and a hike around the bizarre Ubehebe Crater, there are endless possibilities to explore this extreme landscape well beyond where the pavement ends.
Every year, nearly five million people visit Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona but only a small percentage of the park's visitors ever see the remote North Rim. Greg explores this diverse and stunning part of the Grand Canyon few people ever see. From its lush pine forests to breathtaking views, the North Rim gives visitors to the Grand Canyon an unforgettable look at the forces of nature on a massive scale.
The bright lights and night life of Las Vegas draws millions of visitors to Nevada every year but just outside of Sin City you'll truly find God's country in America's largest man-made lake, Lake Mead. Greg shows you how to explore this pristine lake with the help of a large, houseboat base camp and a smaller, faster boat to access the rugged shores of this enormous reservoir.
Alaska is a wide open, wild frontier. But right in the middle of it's incredible Kenai Fjords National Park, you'll find a totally unique lodge that takes the definition of an Alaskan vacation to a whole new level.
Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is as rugged and beautiful as it gets. But you don't have to be an extreme adventurer to enjoy the southern part of the Kenai Peninsula and Kenai Fjords National Park. Kenai Fjorids National Park is one of the best places on earth to see active glaciers at work. Greg explores one of the easiest to reach glaciers in the world for a close-up look at this ancient ice.
Lake Superior is the largest fresh water lake in the world and it's scenic northern shores are the perfect place to unwind, escape and explore. Greg discovers a section of Lake Superior's shoreline between Two Harbors, Minnesota and the historic Split Rock Lighthouse.
With over 20 individual islands, the Apostle Islands recreation area on Lake Superior is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. With miles of both mainland and island hiking trails, sunken wrecks to explore and some of the best paddling in America, the Apostle Islands should be on everyone's list.
Glacier National Park is considered the crown jewel of the entire park system. With easy access to incredible, alpine landscapes, Glacier National Park is outdoor beauty on an epic scale. But getting away from the crowds and popular tourist hot-spots is the best way to experience the true nature of this park and its easier than you might think.
Greg shares the wonder of Yosemite National Park with two hikers who have never been.
Monterey Bay is a place where California's rugged coast opens up to a sprawling bay. It is a destination for wildlife and one that will take our guest hikers -- Debi and Ron -- by surprise. Debi and Ron are from Chicago and this was their first trip to California. They have left the cold weather to come and explore this coastal paradise with Greg for two days.
Utah's Arches National Park is a place where desert sands have formed into impossible sculptures. It is one of the most popular national parks in the west but it is easy to escape the crowds if you know where to look. For three Motion guest hikers, walking these amazing sand sculptures is a dream come true.
There's more to the Black Hills of South Dakota than Mt. Rushmore. It is also home to the diverse Wind Cave National Park -- where you will find one of the world's largest and most unique cave systems. Above ground, it is a landscape of pine forest, hills, native grasslands, and abundant wildlife.
St John in the U.S Virgin Islands offers some of the most beautiful tropical scenery in the world. Greg and the Motion crew experience the raw beauty of St. John and the Virgin Islands National Park with guest-hiker Angela. St. John is famous for its white sand beaches but there is plenty to marvel at below the surface of the clear blue waters.
Motion started when two unlikely worlds came together. Two brothers with completely different backgrounds -- one was a TV producer and photographer and the other was a pro-mountain guide -- created a unique kind of outdoor show that captured America's wild places.
Two guest-hikers set out on an adventure with Greg Aiello, host of Motion, to explore one of the most remote national monuments in the U.S. -- Misty Fjords National Monument in southeast Alaska. The monument, which is called the Yosemite of the North, features an expansive rainforest that is mostly untouched by human hands.
Tioga Pass and Yosemite's Highway 120 are known for their stunning scenery and unrivaled access to the High Sierra. Discover how and why this historic road came to be.
Ketchikan is a gateway to southern Alaska's wild outdoors! The area is filled with dense woods, abundant wildlife and adventure around every corner but it is also a place where the weather doesn't always cooperate -- as Greg soon discovered. Greg explored Ketchikan with two very enthusiastic guest hikers Nina and Carey.
It's one of America's iconic national parks, best known for its towering granite cliffs and spectacular waterfalls. But even though nearly four million people a year visit Yosemite National Park in California, few have ever seen this remote section of Yosemite hidden deep in the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Greg embarks on a rugged journey into a region of the park few people ever see. The alpine landscape here is breathtaking, and also treacherous. Focus and preparation are key to a safe and successful trip.
On the border of the Inyo National Forest and Yosemite National Park, lies one of the most prominent mountains found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains--Mt. Conness. It's a diverse and challenging mountain to climb as Greg and the guest-hikers are about to find out. With the help of Ian Elman of Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, they hope to summit this iconic peak!
Saguaro National Park is named after the giant species of cactus it was originally established to protect. It is now one of the largest preserves in the United States for this iconic symbol of the American west. It is split into two separate regions -- called districts -- on either side of Tucson, Arizona. Each district is on the outskirts of town, making this an easy park to access from a major metropolitan area. Kristi and Ray from San Francisco joined Greg on this trip. This was their first trip to the desert.
San Francisco is a fast-paced city on the California coast in the second-most densely populated metropolis in America, but just minutes away, you can lose yourself in the wild solitude that is worlds away from the pulse of city life.
It's a wide open and barren desert landscape, but a closer look reveals the unique wilds of California's largest state park. From caves sculpted by wind to a true desert oasis that took us all by surprise, this is another Southwest destination big on scenic beauty. Greg invited two guest hikers for the journey to Anza Borrego. Michael Roeshman, a battalion chief with the Philadelphia Fire Department and Captain Eric Snyder, also a member of the PFD.
Valley of Fire State Park's stunning red rocks and bright blue skies set the stage for an outdoor destination that is tough to beat. But these hidden canyons and sandstone caves are relatively unknown because they are overshadowed by the bright lights of nearby Las Vegas, Nevada. Greg Aiello brought along regular Las Vegas visitor, Dave Denny, who never knew there so many unique places to explore in the area.
Without a film crew, Greg Aiello embarks on a solo 11-mile climb up the Kalalau Trail, a treacherous hike attempted by few tourists who visit the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. His path leads directly past gorgeous views from sea cliffs of the Napali Coast.
Northern California's Redwood National Park is a dense forest home to the tallest trees on earth. But it is a place also known for its diversity where hikes through enchanting settings lead straight to the sea. Greg invited a guest hiker to explore the park with him. Mike from Long Island, New York, has never seen anything like the redwood giants before.
Somewhere not so far removed from the bright lights and the glitz of the Vegas Strip lies one of southern Nevada's best kept outdoor recreation secrets -- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in Arkansas. It is surrounded by undeveloped shores and is a paradise for boating and fishing. With some of the cleanest waters in America, this is a summer vacation destination that is really tough to beat.
Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado is home to the largest archeological preserve in America. You can find the remains of a lost civilization hidden in the walls of park's canyons. These mysterious dwellings still hold many secrets and the thrill of discovery for those ready for a unique adventure. Greg set out to explore the park with Britt and Mike -- an active couple from Chicago who love the outdoors. They are both avid cyclist.
Interior Alaska is one of the last great frontiers in the world and home to one of the most stunning national parks in America. It is the perfect place to truly get away and start an adventure in an incredible place. Greg invited three of his old friends to explore Denali National Park and Preserve with him.
Alaska's backcountry wildreness is an expansive world filled with beauty, wide open views and adventure. In the second part of Motion's Alaska special, Greg Aiello and three of his old friends explore Denali National Park and Preserve together, hiking through tundra, climbing Calico Pass and floating on the Sanctuary River.
When Greg Aiello and his friends' plan to visit Yellowstone National Park is derailed by the government shutdown, the crew puts together a plan B that showcases some of the area's other natural beauty, including a gorgeous creek trail, an eerie earthquake site and rare wildlife.
Motion's Greg Aiello shows you how to select backpacking gear which can be intimidating to those new to the sport. He also shares some tips on what systems and gear he personally likes.
Belize has become one of the top tourist destinations in the country. It is a place where warm waters meet lost civilizations. Host Greg Aiello brings along self-described workaholic Shiloh Janes for a trip of a lifetime. The pair plans to dive on a world famous reef, get up close and personal with jungle wildlife and discover the Maya ruins of Belize.
Catalina Island is an exciting travel destination with the look and feel of a European escape but this vacation island hot spot is just 22 miles from the beaches and bright lights of Los Angeles. Host Greg Aiello takes two guest hikers from the east coast and introduces them to this incredible island getaway. It was the perfect spot for a once-in-a-lifetime surprise.
Greg Aiello takes you along on a self-documented solo adventure on the Trans-Catalina Trail. This 37-mile long trail winds along the scenic ridges, passes and valleys of this beautiful and rugged island and presents stunning views of the Pacific Ocean as well as some rather unexpected encounters with wildlife.
The Motion crew explores Espiritu Santo Island, which is located just off the coast of La Paz on the southern end of Baja Mexico. The beautiful scenery, turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and unforgettable encounters with marine life, make this an incredible trip. And, for guest hiker Kit it was a chance to connect with the memory of her father in a very special way.
The Himalaya is the tallest and most rugged mountain range on earth. It is home to the world's highest peak -- Mount Everest. Tourism in the Himalaya is booming each year with thousands of people coming to climb, trek and experience life on the roof of the world. For Greg Aiello, coming to Nepal and climbing these mountains has been at the top of his bucket list for years. But he's about to check it off!
Greg Aiello takes a wild and dangerous trip to the edge of Alaska, exploring Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and staring into the depth of the state's epic wilderness and remote beauty. Along the way, he battles to stay with his fellow traveler down a rapidly moving river, explores a glacier and even paddles into a cave of ice that could collapse at any moment.
Greg Aiello and the Motion crew celebrate their 100th episode of Motion with a heart-felt look back at five years of exploring America's national parks and wild places. With never-before-seen footage and hilarious behind-the-scenes outtakes, relive some of the special moments that made Motion a fan-favorite series on the Live Well Network.