Arches National Park Reservations

US National Parks that Require Reservations – 2024 Guide

Julie National Park, United States 4 Comments

Due to growing popularity and visitation, there are now eleven National Parks that require a reservation in advance. This includes timed entry reservations, vehicle reservations to drive a particular road, or a hiking permit for select trails. Why are National Parks Requiring Reservations? For the last 10 years, visitation in the US national parks has steadily been growing. Contrary to …

Death Valley in December

10 Best National Parks to Visit in December 2024 (USA)

Julie National Park, United States 2 Comments

Which are the best national parks to visit in December? In this guide, we list 10 beautiful national parks in the USA. Whether you are planning a family getaway during winter break or a vacation before the holiday season rolls around, we have lots of great ideas for you. Go hiking in Utah, gaze across the Grand Canyon, or go …

Bryce Canyon winter

12 Best National Parks to Visit in November 2024 (USA)

Julie National Park, United States Leave a Comment

Planning a trip to the US national parks in November and don’t know which ones to visit? The cooler weather in November makes this one of the best times of the year to visit the parks across the southern part of the USA. Road trip through Utah’s Mighty 5, go sledding on sand as white as the snow, and explore …

National Parks in October

13 Best National Parks to Visit in October 2024 (USA)

Julie National Park, United States 4 Comments

In October, fall colors sweep across much of the United States. The majority of the parks that you will see on this list are parks that are ablaze in fall colors. Some of these are obvious picks, such as Acadia and Shenandoah, but a few may surprise you. In this guide, we list 13 beautiful national parks to visit in …

Arches National Park

10 Best National Parks to Visit in March 2024 (USA)

Julie National Park, United States Leave a Comment

Planning a trip to the US national parks in March but don’t know which ones to visit? March brings warmer temperatures to most of the United States. Travel begins to pick up during this month, both because of the warmer weather and because families are hitting the road for spring break. There are a lot of great national parks to …

Dry Tortugas National Park

12 Best National Parks to Visit in January 2024 (USA)

Julie National Park, United States Leave a Comment

Planning a trip to the US national parks in January but don’t know which ones to visit? In January, much of the country is cold and covered in snow, but there are plenty of parks you can visit to escape the wintry conditions. In this article, we cover the best national parks to visit in January, plus one very cool …

Zion Mount Carmel Highway

10 Things to Do in Zion if You Don’t Want to Ride the Shuttle

Julie United States 5 Comments

Zion is one of the most popular national parks to visit in the USA. Recently, this park has been drawing record numbers of visitors. Because of this, you should expect big crowds waiting to board the Zion Shuttle.  By 8 am, the line to board the Zion Shuttle can be very long. We are talking a wait of an hour …

Utah Mighty 5 Itinerary

The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

Julie United States 82 Comments

Utah is home to five of the most stunning national parks in the United States. Throw in some national monuments and a few spectacular state parks and you have a extraordinary road trip destination. If you are planning your Utah national parks itinerary, we have tons of information to share with you. In this post, learn how to plan the …

American Southwest Itinerary 14 days

Two Week American Southwest Road Trip: Grand Canyon & Utah’s Mighty 5

Julie Itinerary, United States 74 Comments

This is one of the best road trips in the USA. On this American Southwest road trip, you will visit Utah’s Mighty 5, the Grand Canyon, and a handful of wonderful state parks and national monuments. This is the itinerary I wish we had when we planned our first road trip to the American Southwest. The sights you will see …

Zion Travel Tips

5 Things to Know Before Visiting Zion National Park

Julie United States 28 Comments

Zion National Park and its epic hiking trails have become an extremely popular place to visit in recent years. This is a spectacular destination and one of our favorite national parks in the USA. However, due to crowd levels, trail closures, and cyanobacteria in the Virgin River, Zion has become a challenging park to visit. Here are 5 things to …

National Parks Hikes

20 Fun, Short Hikes in the National Parks

Julie United States 6 Comments

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 …

Watchman Trail Zion

How to Hike the Watchman Trail in Zion National Park

Julie United States Leave a Comment

The Watchman Trail is a relatively easy hike that offers nice views over Springdale and the southern end of Zion National Park. Since this trail starts at the visitor center, no shuttle is necessary, making this a great option if you want to go hiking in Zion without waiting in line for the shuttle. Here’s how to do it. Watchman …

Zion National Park Itinerary

Zion National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 6 Days in Zion

Julie United States 77 Comments

If you are planning your Zion National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. Zion National Park is a hiker’s paradise. This relatively small park is packed with some of the most thrilling hikes in the United States. From the awe-inspiring hike up Angels Landing to the bucket list-worthy Zion Narrows to the family friendly Riverside Walk, there …

Grand Canyon Road Trip Itinerary

Grand Canyon Road Trip: 5 Itineraries from Las Vegas

Julie United States 20 Comments

Are 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 Sedona to your Grand Canyon …

Mighty 5 Itinerary

Utah’s Mighty 5: Travel Guide and Road Trip Itinerary

Julie United States 181 Comments

Stretching across southern and central Utah are five stunning national parks. Called the Mighty 5, these parks contain some of the most thrilling hiking trails and iconic landscapes in the United States. Stand atop Angels Landing in Zion. Gaze across a wonderland of hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. Explore the Water Pocket Fold at Capitol Reef. Watch the sunrise at Mesa …

Zion Narrows

Zion Narrows Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up: Which One Should You Choose?

Julie United States 4 Comments

Hiking the Zion Narrows is a very unique experience. For miles you hike through an endless slot canyon with the North Fork of the Virgin River as your hiking trail. There are two ways you can hike the Narrows. Most people hike it from the bottom-up, an out and back journey that takes you through some of the most scenic …

Zion Narrows Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Zion Narrows

Julie United States 52 Comments

The Zion Narrows is one of Zion’s most popular hikes, for good reason. This is the quintessential slot canyon hike. For miles, you hike in the North Fork of the Virgin River, surrounded by sheer rock walls and amazing beauty. It’s challenging, it’s unique, and it makes for a very memorable experience. There are several different ways you can hike …

Zion Narrows Photos

Journey through the Zion Narrows in Photos

Julie United States 18 Comments

For millions of years, the Virgin River has been carving its way through layers of rock, forming the Zion Narrows. This canyon twists and turns for miles, creating one of the most unique hiking trails in the world. There are several different ways you can hike the Narrows. Most people hike from the bottom-up, an out-and-back journey that takes you …

American Southwest Itinerary

10 Days in the American Southwest: The Ultimate Road Trip

Julie United States 139 Comments

The American southwest is one of the USA’s best road trip destinations. It’s unbelievable how much there is to see and do here. There are the breathtaking vistas of the Grand Canyon, thrilling hiking trails in Zion National Park, and millions of hoodoos to photograph in Bryce Canyon. Are you getting excited yet? The list keeps going, with the sweeping …

Best Zion Hikes

10 Great Hikes in Zion National Park: Which One Will Be Your Favorite?

Julie United States 73 Comments

Zion National Park is one of the best spots in the United States to go hiking. From the awe-inspiring hike up Angels Landing to the family friendly Riverside Walk to multi-day backpacking adventures, there is something here for everyone. Here are 10 of the best hikes in Zion National Park. This is not an all-inclusive list, but there is definitely …