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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Devils Garden is a fun to explore, scenic spot to visit in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. If you have plans to drive down Hole-in-the-Rock Road, here are five reasons why you should visit Devils Garden. #1 This Place is a Beauty! With hoodoos, crazy rock formations, and arches, Devils Garden is a beautiful spot to […]
The hike to Half Dome is one of Yosemite’s most challenging and most memorable hikes. On this hike you get to walk on some of Yosemite’s most popular hiking trails, view the Vernal and Nevada waterfalls, and walk through shady forests of Sequoia trees. But the best part of the trail is the final climb […]
If you have plans to hike to Half Dome, you must have a Half Dome permit. A maximum of 300 permits are awarded per day in a lottery system. In this guide, we cover why you need a permit and how to get one. Why Do You Need a Permit? Since 2010, the National Park […]
Have you ever wondered what it is like to climb the Half Dome cables? Did you even know that hiking Half Dome was something you could do? I will admit it, when I saw my first photos of people clinging to the steel cables on Half Dome, climbing one of Yosemite’s most famous icons, this […]
The hike to Hidden Canyon blew away our expectations. This hike is tons of fun, with trails that cling to the side of a cliff and a scenic canyon to explore. Sections of this hike are similar to Angels Landing, with vertigo-inducing trails that come with chains to help you keep your balance. This trail […]
Tim and I visited Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on the same day. We took the same tours, walked through the same red sandstone walls, and came away with completely different favorites. Tim’s was Lower. Mine was Upper. That split tells you something important: these aren’t two versions of the same experience. They’re genuinely different […]
Lower Antelope Canyon lives in the shadow of its more famous neighbor up the road, but Tim would argue it shouldn’t. When we visited both canyons on the same day, Upper was my favorite and Lower was his, and we’ve never quite agreed on which one wins. What makes Lower different is hard to describe […]
San Antonio is a fun city to visit in Texas, even if you have limited time. The River Walk and the Alamo are the highlights, but there are a few more great places to explore. If you have just one day in San Antonio, you have just enough time to tour the best spots in […]
Austin, known as the Live Music Capital of the World, is also home to a fabulous food scene. Barbecue and Tex-Mex reign supreme here but there is enough variety to keep everyone happy. From trailer park tacos to fine dining establishments, there is something here for everyone. Here is our list of Austin restaurants to […]
Austin surprised us. We went expecting live music and barbecue, and we got both, but what caught us off guard was how much fun the city itself is. There’s a loose, come-as-you-are energy here that makes it easy to just wander, eat, and stay out too late. Tim and I spent a long weekend here […]
The West Rim Trail is a long distance hike through Zion National Park. Starting at Lava Point, the trail slowly descends into the heart of Zion, the views getting better the farther you go. Hikers also have the option to add on Angels Landing. This is a beautiful hike, but it is long and requires […]
Monument Valley is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the American Southwest, with massive sandstone buttes rising from a wide-open desert landscape along the Arizona–Utah border. You can drive the scenic Valley Drive on your own, hike around one of the iconic Mittens, join a Navajo-guided tour into areas that are otherwise off limits, […]
If you are visiting the American southwest and are looking for scenic drive, consider Valley of the Gods. Located near Monument Valley, this area is filled with buttes and mesas and tall rock formations. It doesn’t quite pack the “wow” punch like Monument Valley, but the Valley of the Gods is still a worthwhile visit. […]