Two itinerary’s for Yosemite - one for a non-hiker and a second for someone looking for an amazing multi-hour day hike that is in the mountains but goes primarily downhill.
Great Basin National Park
If you are looking for a less visited National Park, check out Great Basin National Park. Situated along America’s Loneliest Road, this National Park sees only 90,000 visitors annually, meaning you will have this park to yourself. Enjoy a tour in Lehman’s Cave, hike up to Wheeler Peak, and see the Bristlecone Pine Tree groves (the oldest type of living organism on our planet).
Dinosaur National Monument and the Surrounding Area
Black Hills: Family Adventure Guide
Traveling Through Badlands National Park
Badlands is one of my favorite National Parks. It is conveniently located off of I-90. Watch the sunrise at Big Badlands Overlook. Hike Notch Trail, Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, and Saddle Pass. Stop and check out the views at White River Overlook, Panorama Point, and Yellow Mounds Overlook. Watch for Mountain Sheep near Ancient Hunters Overlook. Keep an eye out for Bison near the Pinnacles entrance. Stop at the Minute Missile Site for a humbling experience learning about our nuclear warheads. Enjoy a quick supper at Wall Drug.
Hiking Capitol Reef National Park with Kids
Capitol Reef, the lesser visited National Park of Utah’s Mighty 5, is a quiet adventure awaiting you with less crowds but just as amazing views. Our itinerary consisted of hikes at Capitol Gorge, Cohab Canyon, Sulphur Creek, and Hickman’s Bridge. We also visited nearby Goblin Valley Sate Park, a must-do if you have children.
Zion National Park: A 3-Day Itinerary
A 3-day itinerary to Zion National Park - A guide to trails in and around Zion National Park with recommendations for travelling with children and other ideas if you are a more experienced hiker. Day 1: Kolob Canyon, Timber Creek Overlook, Kanarra Falls, and Pa’rus Trail. Day 2: Angels Landing or Upper and Lower Emerald Pools from the Kayenta Trail, Hidden Canyon, and Riverside Walk. Day 3: Canyon Overlook Trail, Pink Coral Sand Dunes State Park, and Moqui Caverns.
How to Spend an Adventure-Filled Day in Page, AZ
If you are looking for an off-the-beaten path vacation destination with beauty and adventure, spend a few days in Page, AZ. Hike to Horseshoe Bend, take a tour through Antelope Canyon and enjoy a boat ride on Lake Powell. See the Glen Canyon Dam and spend some time exploring the Glen Canyon New Wave.
Grand Staircase-Escalante in March
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a beautiful, rugged, and off-the-beaten path park. It’s vastness and accessibility challenges can make planning a family trip here a little daunting. Here are some tips for planning a Spring Break hiking trip to Escalante. Trail reviews of Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch, Devil’s Garden, Angel’s Palace, Toadstools, and Lower Calf Creek Falls (as well as others) are included.
4 Days in Phoenix, 4 Amazing Hikes
Tired of winter? Escape to Phoenix for a short trip to find spring and enjoy the sun. The city of Phoenix is referred to as “The Valley” because it is surrounded by mountain ranges. Phoenix has invested in creating Regional Parks in each of these mountain ranges, which include beautiful hikes and minimal driving needed to get there. If you travel in March, you just might be blessed with a desert in bloom. Enjoy these hiking ideas.
The Icefields - Hiking in Banff and Jasper National Parks
Planning Guide To Banff, Canada
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
An Adventure Awaits in Arizona
Trip ideas, places to go, hikes for kids on your next vacation to Arizona including Phoenix, Arizona State University, Sedona, Tuscon, Sagauro National Park, Sabino Canyon, Kartchner Canyon State Park, Chiricahua National Monument, Grand Canyon North and South Rim, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, and Petrified Forest National Park
Exploring Moab, Utah
Here’s your guide to a proposed six-day hiking itinerary in Moab, UT, my favorite city to visit in the United States. This agenda is designed for those that love hiking and rock scrambling, and includes trails both within Arches and Canyonlands National Parks as well as the lesser known trails just outside of Moab. I’ve included the difficulty of the trails, distance and elevation stats, as well as potential obstacles that may be tricky if mobility is a concern. At the end of this post, I’ve added some other destinations you may want to include on your Moab road trip, as the downside to visiting Moab is not having a major airport nearby. No worries though, there are many awesome places to explore in Utah to make your entire trip memorable.
Planning a Trip to the North Shore
From Jay Cooke to Duluth and up to the Canadian Border, these are my favorite places to stop along Lake Superior’s North Shore of Minnesota off of MN-61. Included are favorite hikes at Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche, Temperance River, Cascade, George Crosby Manitou, Judge Magney, Grand Portage, and the Superior Hiking Trail. See amazing waterfalls, sea caves, spend time on the beach, skip rocks, hike to incredible overlooks, and canoe through lakes clean enough to drink from.