What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of San Francisco? The Golden Gate Bridge? The legend and the stories of Alcatraz? Cable cars climbing up and down the steep hills of the city? San Francisco is a big city, filled with lots of things to do. It has a colorful history, beautiful harbor, and lots …
Cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge was one of our favorite experiences in San Francisco. We are always on the search for adventure, and by joining the holiday crowds on a July 4th weekend, this was a bit on the crazy side. Throw in some fog, some wind, and just enough hills to keep things interesting, and you’ve got yourself …
Walking the Freedom Trail is one of Boston’s best experiences. On this walk, learn about Paul Revere’s midnight ride, visit historic meetinghouses and churches, and learn about battles and events that sparked that start of the Revolutionary War. What is the Freedom Trail? The American Revolutionary War began in Boston. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile route that takes …
With colorful sandstone spires, red rock mountains, and bright blue skies, Kodachrome Basin is a gorgeous little spot to explore. Its name, Kodachrome, fits it perfectly, describing the multitude of vivid colors that are found here. Laced with hiking and horseback riding trails, you could spend a few days here. In fact, Kodachrome Basin makes a great, off-the-beaten-path destination to …
There is a lot to see and do in Boston, but if you can pull yourself away for a day, there are several nearby towns that are perfect for a day trip. Plymouth, just a short drive from Boston, is where the pilgrims first made landfall in Massachusetts, establishing one of the oldest settlements in the United States. Follow Paul …
If you are looking for a super fun hike to do, put Peek-A-Boo Gulch and Spooky Gulch on your list. Just their names make this hike sound enticing. These slot canyons are located in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on Hole-in-the-Rock Road. Getting here can be a mini-adventure, driving over 25 miles down a rough, dirt road through dry desert landscapes. And …
Yosemite National Park is packed with famous landmarks, awesome hikes, and breathtaking views. If you are planning your first trip to Yosemite, how do you know what to do? I am a big fan of lists (and photos!). In this post, I list the best things to do in Yosemite: the best landmarks to visit, the best views, and best …
Boston is famous for a lot of things: the Boston Red Sox, the Freedom Trail, Harvard and MIT, and the famous Boston Tea Party, the event that kicked off the American Revolutionary War. We spent almost one full week touring Boston and the nearby towns and we were amazed by how much there is to do here. In just Boston …
Cottonwood Canyon Road is a scenic, unpaved road that travels through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. It connects the town of Cannonville with Highway 89, just west of Big Water. Tim and I drove this road during our road trip through Arizona and Utah. Since we were traveling from Page, Arizona up to Escalante, Utah, Cottonwood Canyon Road was the perfect shortcut …
With limited vacation time, it is tempting to pack in as much sightseeing as possible into your holiday. So, how do you maximize your time? Some of these tips require some advance research, such as planning out ahead of time what sights you want to see, their hours of operation, and their locations. By doing a little work up front …
Hiking to the top of Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall is one of Yosemite’s most popular activities. You have several options to get there and the route you choose will have a big impact on what kind of experience you will have. Two trails wind their way up to these waterfalls, the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail. So, …
Bryce Canyon National Park…a fantasyland of hoodoos, bizarre rock formations, and sandstone pillars. This is a crazy beautiful place, and its unique landscape sets it apart from other national parks. Although Bryce may not have the same sweeping, expansive vistas as the Grand Canyon, it’s still a breathtaking experience the first time you see this view. What Makes Bryce Canyon …
Bryce Canyon National Park may be small in size but it has an enormous wow factor. With its orange and pink hoodoos and sandstone rock formations, Bryce Canyon is one of the most unique national parks in the United States. By hiking Bryce Canyon and visiting its numerous viewpoints, you can have the best experience here. There are numerous hiking …
This Balkan Peninsula itinerary is perfect for those who want to explore this gorgeous corner of Europe. Tour three countries, visit coastal, medieval towns, cruise the Adriatic Sea, lounge on some of Europe’s most unique beaches, dine on fresh seafood, and climb the highest mountain in the Adriatic Sea, if you desire. Croatia is a joy to explore, Montenegro is …
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a city with a tumultuous history. WWI started here in 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria. In 1984, Sarajevo was broadcasted into homes all over the world, as millions of people tuned in to watch the Winter Olympics. Just 6 years later, the world tuned again, this time for …
While planning our itinerary to the Balkan Peninsula, we had a decision to make. Spend several days in northern Croatia, visiting Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes, or go south to Montenegro. After seeing photos of Kotor, Sveti Stefan, and the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro was the winner. And it blew away our expectations. We spent 2 days in Montenegro, just enough …
On a weekday in July, Kara, Grandmom and I spent our day at Gettysburg National Military Park. We spent almost one full day here and filled up our time with different tours of the park. There is plenty to do here in one day and every experience is unique. A Brief History of Gettysburg Let’s start with some history of …
There are a lot of great reasons to hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. From the trail, the views of Yosemite Falls are magnificent. For part of the hike, you are close enough to feel the spray and hear the waterfall thundering down the mountain. Halfway up the climb you get an amazing view of Yosemite Valley, with …
The town of Mostar is one of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s most popular destinations. With cobblestoned streets, old stone buildings, and its beautiful bridge spanning the picturesque Neretva River, this town looks like it was plucked from the pages of a fairytale. This small town attracts thousands of visitors per year. Seeing Stari Most, the Old Bridge, is the highlight of …
It’s nice to spend the holiday season at home, visiting with family and enjoying the low-key end to the year. But what if you want to get away? With two weekends and two days off of work for Christmas and New Year’s, it’s possible to swing a 10-day getaway without taking too many vacation days. Sounds nice, right? Most of …