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 …
How to Hike Half Dome in Yosemite, A Step-by-Step Guide
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 on the Half Dome cables …
The Half Dome Permit: How to be One of the Lucky Lottery Winners
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 Service has required hikers to …
One Day Itinerary for Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks sit side by side in central California. Filled with alpine peaks, deep canyons, and the largest trees in the world, you could spend several days here. However, if you only have one day, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of both parks. We visited Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park on …
One Perfect Day in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a gem of a state park. With desert landscapes, slot canyons and dirt roads to explore, and hidden oases, this is a great place to add to your itinerary, if you will be visiting southern California. In this guide, we cover how to spend one day in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Interesting Facts about Anza-Borrego …
Best National Parks in the USA: 15 Amazing Parks for Your Bucket List
Stretching from the South Pacific, across the United States and into the Caribbean, are 63 national parks. These national treasures are filled with scenic drives, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, wildlife, historic sites, and endless opportunities for adventure. In this guide, we cover 15 of the best national parks in the USA and what makes them so great. About …
14 Epic Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park (+ Maps & Photos)
One of the best ways to explore Joshua Tree National Park is on foot. Hike to the highest peaks, learn about the Joshua Trees and Cholla cacti on the nature trails, explore hidden slot canyons, and hike to remote oases. In this guide, we share the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. About the Hikes on this List These …
10 EPIC Things to Do in Mojave National Preserve
With enormous sand dunes, cinder cones, lava beds, and the densest population of Joshua Trees in the world, Mojave National Preserve is home to a wide variety of landscapes. This is a fun place to explore and makes a great addition to a southern California road trip. In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Mojave National …
30 Epic Things to Do in Yosemite for First-Timers
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 …
The Perfect Yellowstone Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park
If you are in Grand Teton National Park and have an extra day to spare, why not day trip to Yellowstone National Park? With one day, you have just enough time to hit the highlights…Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the wildlife in Hayden Valley. In this post, learn how to plan the perfect Yellowstone …
5 Environmental Charities We Support
We care deeply about the future of our planet. Climate change, access to clean water, and dependence on fossil fuels are issues that impact everyone on a global scale. It’s also important to protect our wild spaces and oceans, to defend endangered species and wildlife, and to promote sustainable farming practices. To do our part, 5% of our net income …
20 Fun, Short Hikes in the National Parks
One of the best ways to experience the national parks is from a hiking trail. Hike to amazing viewpoints, deep into the forests, through scenic canyons, and to hidden lakes and waterfalls. Along the way, you have a better chance of spotting wildlife and potentially leaving the crowds behind. Here are 20 fun, short hikes in the national parks. Every …
8 Amazing Things to Do at Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes is a much different experience than many other national parks in the United States. Sure, there is hiking and amazing sunsets and ranger programs, but this park has a much different feel to it. It’s a small park and the list of things to do is very short. A few hours are really all you need to …
10 Great Hikes in Badlands National Park
One of the best ways to see Badlands National Park is from a hiking trail. And one of the great things about this park is that most of the hikes are short and sweet, perfect for all ages and ability levels. In this guide, we cover the 10 best hikes in Badlands National Park. The hikes on this list range …
Wrangell – St. Elias National Park Flightseeing Tour: What to Expect & Is It Worth It?
One of the best ways to experience the immense size and grandeur of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is to take a flightseeing tour. This national park is massive…13.2 million acres with only a grand total of 101 miles of roads. Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve also contains the largest number of glaciers and some of the …
Climbing the Half Dome Cables: A Journey in 18 Photos
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 hike got added to our …
How to Hike the Hall of Horrors | Joshua Tree National Park
The Hall of Horrors is one of the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. It’s short, it’s scenic, and adding on the slot canyon is one of the most thrilling experiences in the park. The Hall of Horrors is a short slot canyon that is located in the giant stacks of boulders in the Hall of Horrors area. Getting …
Yellowstone Bucket List: 18 Epic Things to Do in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderland of geothermal activity, stunning landscapes, and abundant wildlife. Steam hisses out of the ground along walking trails, bison stop cars in their tracks on the main park road, and technicolor hot springs never fail to amaze even the most seasoned traveler. In this post, learn about the best things to do in Yellowstone National …
Top 10 Things to Do in Joshua Tree National Park (+ HELPFUL Tips)
With its desert scenery, hiking trails, rock climbing routes, hidden oases, scenic drives, and trees that look like they have been plucked from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book, Joshua Tree National Park is a joy to explore. In this guide, learn about the best things to do in Joshua Tree National Park with tips to have the best …
9 Amazing Things to Do in Katmai National Park & Preserve
Katmai National Park & Preserve is a land of brown bears and volcanoes. It is wild, rugged, and remote and one of our favorite national parks. This national park is one of the best in the US for wildlife viewing. Every summer, brown bears head to the rivers, to feed on salmon. Brooks Falls is one of the best spots …