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 […]
Gem Lake is a short but strenuous hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only do you get to visit a pretty lake but you also get sweeping views of Estes Park with Longs Peak in the distance. If you are looking for a short, family-friendly hike, and don’t mind a bit of a stair […]
One of the best views of Mount Rainier isn’t from Paradise or Sunrise, it’s from a small historic fire lookout high above Eunice Lake. The Tolmie Peak Lookout hike delivers one of the most spectacular perspectives of the mountain, from one of the quietest corners of the park. Tolmie Peak Lookout is one of our […]
The hike to Odessa Lake and onward to Fern Lake is a relatively low-traffic trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its nearby neighbors of Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, and Dream Lake get a lot more visitors, so if you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this […]
Sky Pond is one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park for good reason. This hike has a little bit of everything…waterfalls, alpine lakes, high mountain views, and fun river and stream crossings. To get to Sky Pond, you will rock scramble up a waterfall, which can be refreshing when the weather is […]
We’ve visited Yellowstone four times, and where we stayed looked different nearly every trip. Our first visit was back in 2001, when we spent a few days exploring the park. Kara and I returned in 2019, but that time I planned the trip almost last minute (booking in June for an August visit), so in-park […]
Big Bend Ranch State Park is an overlooked gem in west Texas. Visitors come to this area to explore Big Bend National Park, but what many don’t know is that there is an amazing state park located right around the corner. Big Bend Ranch State Park is awesome. It has all of the ingredients of […]
Old Faithful is Yellowstone’s most famous geyser and one of the park’s must-see sights. But getting the best experience takes a little planning. Eruptions are predictable within a window, crowds build quickly around the main viewing area, and where you watch the eruption can make a surprisingly big difference. Most visitors should plan to spend […]
Yellowstone National Park has the highest concentration of geothermal features of anywhere else on earth. The land literally smokes, bubbles and hisses. Numerous geysers erupt on a regular basis, including the most famous geyser in the world, Old Faithful. We’ve been to Yellowstone four times, and exploring the geyser basins has been a highlight of […]
Discover the best things to do in Big Bend National Park, including the must-see highlights, unique experiences you won’t find anywhere else, and practical tips to help you plan your visit. Big Bend National Park is one of those places that genuinely surprises you. Tim and I had heard it described as remote and rugged, […]
Looking for the best hikes in Glacier National Park? From the breathtaking Highline Trail and the scenic walk to Hidden Lake Overlook to the unforgettable hike to Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park is home to some of the most spectacular trails in the United States. We’ve visited Glacier National Park multiple times, hiking trails across […]
The Balanced Rock hike is one of our favorite short hikes in Big Bend National Park and one of the most rewarding for the effort required. The trail is only 2.2 miles round trip, with just a brief stretch of rock scrambling near the end, making it accessible for most hikers and genuinely fun for […]
If you only have one day in the Grand Canyon, what should you do? Grand Canyon National Park is enormous. With thousands of acres of land, four rims to visit, plus the option to hike below the rim, there is no way that you will get to everything in just one day. However, with one […]
In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Carlsbad Caverns, tour options (both ranger-guided and self-guided), timed entry reservations, plus lots of helpful information. Located in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico sits an underground fantasy land of limestone chambers, stalactites and stalagmites, and long, twisting tunnels. Carlsbad Caverns is breathtaking in […]
Big Bend National Park is one of the most underrated hiking destinations in the United States. Tucked into the southwestern corner of Texas along the Rio Grande, it packs an extraordinary range of terrain into one park — slot canyons, volcanic rock formations, a full mountain range, and miles of river canyon trails. We visited […]
The Ernst Tinaja Trail is one of the most unique hikes to do in Big Bend National Park. This is a short, easy trail through a slot canyon, featuring a series of waterholes located within colorful layers of limestone rock. Those looking for a little more adventure can continue the hike past the water-filled pools and rock […]
If you planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, there are many different ways to plan your perfect road trip, depending on how much time you have and your interests. The American Southwest is packed with stunning parks and landscapes, and it is easy to add on places like Antelope Canyon, Zion National Park, and […]
Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks are three of the most spectacular parks in the United States, and with 10 days, you can visit all three on one unforgettable road trip. Start in Grand Teton, where the lakes and the jagged mountain range create a hiker’s and photographer’s paradise. Journey north to Yellowstone, a […]