My husband and I are hikers–we often cover 50 or 75 miles over the course of a week on vacation. But in Zion, that didn’t make sense: It was HOT and uncomfortable to be out all day. And frankly? After awhile, a lot of the scenery blurred together so covering another 8 miles didn’t add […]
Nowhere else has national parks that measure up like the United States. There is a tremendous amount of protected land and incredible outdoor settings waiting to be visited. In fact, you just might be surprised by the variety that’s on the complete list of US national parks. So pull out your atlas and start mapping a
The Complete List of US National Parks with Printable PDF (2026) Read More »
I feel badly for West Virginia. Most of the time, it’s forgotten about or maybe purposely ignored. When people do acknowledge its presence, its usually to put it on the wrong side of a joke or to perpetuate a stereotype that lost any semblance of truth a hundred years ago. But this week West Virginia
West Virginia Finally Caught a Break (Here’s Why You Should Go) Read More »
In the Grand Tetons, you either need two days or your whole life. During summer, this part of Wyoming is easily toured by car. Most park roads run through the valley, looking up at the imposing mountains. Drive from one overlook to the next, snap some photos, take a walk. You’ll find wildlife, watch a
Live Vicariously Through This Photo Tour of the Grand Tetons Read More »
I’ve been a long-time advocate for shoulder season travel. More often than not, you get smaller crowds and lower prices with only minor trade-offs. Visiting Yellowstone in September is no exception and in fact, fall might be the best time of year to go. Not only will you get traditional shoulder-season benefits, but there are
Pros and Cons of Visiting Yellowstone in September Read More »
I was headed happily downhill when I felt the palm of my husband’s hand firmly against my belly. I stopped dead in my tracks, not daring to take another step. I’ve hiked often enough to know that this was his signal to stop — now — without a word being said. My eyes darted every
“I feel like we’re in a scene from The Land Before Time,” I commented. My husband and I were walking through clouds, the fog obscuring our view past twenty feet or so. In front of us, I could make out one of Yellowstone’s mud craters, a hideous gray pool frothing away. My right ear was
Everyone Loves Yellowstone, Except (Apparently) Me Read More »
I assumed Acadia National Park hiking would be a nightmare. We were visiting on a warm summer weekend and many of the trails are short and flat with gorgeous views. That’s a recipe for crowds and congestion. Sure enough, we parked our rental car at Jordan Pond’s overflow parking lot at 11am on a Saturday
No One Hikes in Acadia National Park and That’s Why You Should Go Read More »
Texas, and El Paso in particular, is currently facing some health challenges, so even though some parks are open, please be careful and responsible. While I think it’s still too early to travel, this gives me hope. Hope that later this year, it’ll be safe for you to try out some of these outdoor things
7 Things to Do In and Around El Paso if You Love the Outdoors Read More »
Do you remember when Sunday drives were a thing? I haven’t taken many of them — I’m really the wrong generation for that — but like anyone, I’ve taken a few, going here or there or nowhere at all. It’s been forever since the last time I drove somewhere simply for the sake of driving,
