An Americana Dreamscape: A photo blog summary of my 2026 travels in Appalachia and Vermont
Rock Point Overlook. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. August 4, 2026.
For my September 2026 blog, join me as I share this year's travels and photo discoveries. The photos in this blog are teasers for upcoming supplemental blogs: 2026 Vermont & St. Albans City, 2026 Oakland & Cumberland, Maryland, 2026 Boutique Hotels, 2026 Pics from Parks, and 2026 Townscapes. Photography isn't the primary purpose of my trips, but I get shots to share beyond a personal scrapbook. I hoped to photograph birds and dragonflies and spend more time in the woods with a camera than last year. But my camera time is limited, and it shrank to the heat I could tolerate on days when it wasn't storming. The news reported it was the hottest summer in many years. But I still got out to explore despite Mother Nature and her uncooperative wildlife.
I do not let social media guide my photography style. The subjects and locations in my pictures are unlikely to be influencer magnets. I photograph where I can afford to go and what is there, and those moments are priceless to me. The parks I go to are usually under an hour and a half drive away. I get out to take pictures on at least one of my days off and spend the rest of the week editing shots before work.
My work schedule determines the days I can shoot, and the weather narrows down the best genre and gear for the day. Before I leave home, I decide whether to focus on snapshots, wildlife, woodland, or townscape. Carrying the weight of what you will not use that day is foolish, and IRL has no reset button. When I travel or scout locations, I make the best of when and where I am with what I have. I prefer certain gear in specific situations, and I pack accordingly, but I am not a brand ambassador or sensor-size snob. I want to develop my own understanding of photography gear and tech for the types of photos I take. Besides, limiting genres reduces my problem-solving range. I don’t always have the ideal gear with me, and that is okay.
Different genres of photography favor particular attributes of camera sensor sizes and lenses. My gear collection is driven more by curiosity and necessity than gear-acquisition syndrome. Overall, I have weather-sealed, stabilized gear because I spend most of my photo time outdoors where tripods are impractical. I use a variety of cameras and sensor sizes: phone, Micro Four Thirds, APSC, and full-frame.
For years, a featureless sky has dominated my photography days, and it is frustrating. An all-gray, all-white, cloudless light-blue, and, worst of all, a bright white haze over a cloudless light-blue sky has become a running joke. Leaving the sky out of landscape, building, reflection, or bird photos is often impossible. Using an oddly uniform sky in a composition makes it look like I replaced the sky with an ambient void. Leaving the sky out of frame also leaves the subject out of place. I’m not including examples for fear of spreading my featureless sky curse, and the photos are crap.
Ok, enough talk. Time to enjoy some pictures. I have omitted which camera and settings I used for the photos I am sharing because I want you to look at the pictures, not decipher a spec sheet. Some photos may become available to purchase as prints.
My first keeper of the year.
Doe. Preddy Creek Trail Park, Virginia. March 1, 2026.
The wildlife at Preddy Creek Park has plenty of undergrowth to hide behind, but most of the time it just runs or flies away. The park is popular for hiking, dog walking, horseback riding, and trail biking, so I don’t blame the wildlife for being shy.
Teasers for the 2026 Vermont & St. Albans City photo blog.
June 29 – July 4, 2026.
Vermont was the big-ticket trip of the summer, and I spent a third of it hiding from the heat. Some businesses were closed due to the extreme temperatures. The point of the trip was seeing my mom. I grew up in and around St. Albans City, Vermont, so it was nice to see familiar things and welcome changes. I also practiced some townscape photography, visited local parks, and saw a dairy farm at sunrise. The Back Alley pic reminds me of the building I grew up in that no longer exists.
N. Main St. at Sunrise. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 30, 2026.
Yes, I am standing in the middle of the road. Hahaha.
Back Alley. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 30, 2026.
The alley is a pass-through from a parking garage to the storefronts on Main Street. Many of the upper floors of buildings are apartments.
Mad Ice Cream. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 1, 2026.
This exceptional ice cream shop was across the street from our hotel. Above the car's windshield in the background is the parking garage I mentioned with the Back Alley photo.
Immaculate Conception Church. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2926.
St. Albans City has many stunningly beautiful, historic churches in and around it. On this trip, I was limited to the churches above Taylor Park, my mom’s alma mater Catholic school church, and one in the nearby town of Swanton. I would love to go back with a plan to photograph more of them.
Alan’s Dairy Barn. Vermont. June 30, 2026.
After visiting my mom’s friend Alan at his farm, he let me come back and take some pictures. I took these photos just after sunrise. Unfortunately, clouds and haze kept the sunrise from being picturesque.
Tractor in Barn Shadow. Vermont. June 30, 2026.
I only have two farm photos because I did not have the time or proper shoes to trudge around. The barn was my point of interest, anyway. Alan mentioned that it was one of the last remaining working barns of this style in the area. I love the gambrel roof, and by happy happenstance, the yellow-orange of the tractor and machinery with the weathered red barn. The bright blob over the hill on the right side of the barn is the sun.
Teasers for the 2026 Oakland & Cumberland, Maryland photo blog.
August 30, 2026.
An overnight stay in Cumberland, Maryland was my emotional reward after burying my dad in Terra Alta, West Virginia. After work, I got three hours of sleep and left early to make sure I arrived with my father’s ashes at the gravesite well before 1 pm. From home, Terra Alta is a three-and-a-half-hour drive, and I did not want to drive back the same day.
My Dad passed away in June 2025. On his deathbed, he mentioned a possible change of plans for his ashes that he was unable to clarify. After his passing, we couldn’t find a record of any change to his burial plan, and during the time we searched, his ashes resided with me. Family travel issues delayed the burial until August 30, 2026.
On the way to Terra Alta, I stopped in Oakland, Maryland, to mentally prepare and take some photos. After the burial, I drove an hour to Cumberland, Maryland, and spent the night at The Wills Hotel, a boutique hotel in a restored building in the city's historic district.
Oakland B&O Museum. Oakland, Maryland. August 30, 2026.
The Oakland B&O Museum is in a historic train station. The boom time for many places in Appalachia centered on mining, timber harvesting, and the railroad that enabled commerce. When companies finished extracting natural resources, they left, and the boom gave way to decline and economic hardship. In general, manufacturing and other industrial production, including glass, textiles, and chemicals, later moved away or sharply downscaled local operations. The rise of the automobile, highway systems, trucking, and air freight further changed where commercial centers thrived and how goods were distributed. Now many small towns rely on history and outdoor adventures as new natural resources to exploit.
Oakland Bike Shop. Oakland, Maryland. August 30, 2026.
Small towns often have downtowns and shops with big personalities. Old buildings from the boom haunt the often single-street of storefronts. The blend of new, restored, and derelict structures creates a complex scene of struggle, creativity, and perseverance.
On to Cumberland, Maryland.
Cumberland Under Angular Clouds. Cumberland, Maryland. August 30, 2026.
Western Maryland Railway Cumberland Station. August 30, 2026.
Footer’s Dye Works. Cumberland, Maryland. August 30, 2026.
Cumberland, Maryland Tourist Trap. August 30. 2026.
I admire the efforts to make Cumberland more attractive, but the tourist-centric Canal Place Historical Park blends the aesthetics of an amusement park and a board game. A more subdued styling would better support the serious history themes. However, the adjacent historic downtown has beautiful murals to discover on buildings and in alleys. I look forward to returning and exploring more of Cumberland and the surrounding mountains.
Teasers for the 2026 Boutique Hotels photo blog.
May 25, August 30, and September 6, 2026.
I've spent most of my hospitality career working in historic boutique inns and hotels. It feels strange for me to be a guest in these places. A property's story and setting are just a display case, and amenities should match expectations. The people who elevate the guest experience are what make these places truly special. A non-weekend rate for a one-night stay is an economical way to explore a boutique hotel. The best available rate for a more budget-friendly option isn't much lower, and while breakfast may be included, memorable service and unique photo opportunities aren't.
Documenting my stay feels uncomfortable. I don’t want to be a tacky tourist or obnoxious travel blogger. But I’ll improve my coverage as I stay in more places. I just want some amazing pictures to supplement my memories.
The Virginian Hotel Lounge. Lynchburg, Virginia. May 25, 2026.
The Wills Hotel Bar. Cumberland, Maryland. August 30, 2026.
At the Hotel Roanoke. Roanoke, Virginia. September 6, 2026.
Teasers for the 2026 Pics from Parks photo blog.
March – September 2026
The parks I frequent are usually under an hour and a half drive away. In addition, my wife and I are pursuing a Master Hiker Award from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. The program is called the Virginia State Parks Trail Quest. Wordy, I know, hahaha. We have visited twenty of the required forty-one parks. We have exhausted the parks within a reasonable day trip from home and have a strategy to visit the remaining parks in bulk to complete the Trail Quest. In 2026, we visited six Virginia State Parks: Seven Bends, Sweet Run, Holliday Lake, High Bridge, Fairy Stone, and Smith Mountain Lake.
Switchback Trail. Crabtree Falls, Virginia. April 13, 2026.
Trillium and Deadwood. Crabtree Falls, Virginia. April 13, 2026.
Misty Hills. Seven Bends State Park, Virginia. April 26, 2026.
Cedar Waxwing. Augusta Springs Wetland Park, Virginia. August 25, 2026.
Teasers for the 2026 Townscapes photo blog.
March – September 2026
I am new to taking pictures in public, and I don’t consider my photos to be street photography. I prefer the label Townscapes. I try to include natural features with buildings in compositions. And compositions may have nothing to do with what is shown in them. Look for geometric shapes, patterns, color arrangements, and the placement of signs or objects. Or look for something common that isn't ordinary. Some photos have no agenda; they just look pretty.
Rainy Morning Paramount. Charlottesville, Virginia. March 30, 2026.
Staunton Clocktower Building. Staunton, Virginia. May 4, 2026.
Sunny Steeple. St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, Staunton, Virginia. May 4, 2026.
John Nolan Plaza Clock. Roanoke, Virginia. September 6, 2026.
I’ll be posting the supplemental photo blogs over the next month or so as I complete them in order: 2026 Vermont & St. Albans City, 2026 Oakland & Cumberland, Maryland, 2026 Boutique Hotels, 2026 Pics from Parks, and 2026 Townscapes. Each blog will cover the locations in more detail and include about two dozen photos. This process is a test run for future photo blogs, so please feel free to comment or email me feedback. Some photos will be available for purchase as fine art prints, cards, puzzles, and other merchandise. Let me know if you have any favorites.
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