How to Make the Most of One Day in White Sands National Park
There are some incredible natural wonders across the U.S., evoking the sensation that you've just stepped onto some alien planet; many of them are protected as national parks. Think of Joshua Tree and its weirdly alien trees. Or Badlands in South Dakota, with striated hills as far as the eye can see. White Sands National Park in New Mexico is another one of those strangely alien landscapes: once you enter the dunes, you're in another world, climbing up and sliding down the seemingly endless gypsum dunes...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Well, Guadalupe Mountains is a hiker's park, after all, the man said, speaking to another couple in the cool and quiet museum of the Guadalupe Mountains Pine Springs Visitor Center. If you don't want to hike, there's not as much to do here. Let me be clear: I don't think this man was speaking poorly of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, nor should this deter you from visiting. Guadalupe Mountains is great for one thing: hiking...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Carlsbad Caverns National Park
America's national parks have something for everyone. Whether you love historic sites, back-country trekking, or delving deep underground... there's a park for that! It turns out that I personally am partial to the latter: I have loved caves and caving since I was a child (along with mining and mineshafts, which is a weird thing for kids to love!). Unsurprisingly then, some of my favorite national parks have caves – and it's also unsurprising that Carlsbad Caverns National Park jumped right onto my list of personal faves since IT'S ALL CAVES...
3 Days in San Jose, CA: Itinerary of the Best Things to Do in the South Bay
When you think of visiting the Bay Area, where comes to mind? San Francisco, definitely. Probably Oakland and/or Berkeley. Maybe somewhere in the North Bay like Napa or Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Does San Jose come to mind? There are far more things to do in San Jose than you might think. San Jose is the final piece of the puzzle – the South Bay’s great weekend destination...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Bandelier National Monument
If you're looking for a place that will never stop surprising you, New Mexico is the destination. While I only took my first trip to New Mexico in July 2021 (to see the Virgin Galactic launch!), I made a return trip in September 2022 to explore a different part of the state, and I am endlessly surprised by how different New Mexico is compared to what I expect. Land of Enchantment, indeed...
A Perfect Great Basin National Park Itinerary for 2 or 3 Days Among the Pines
I could say that Great Basin National Park is my favorite national park in Nevada... but it's also the only national park in Nevada! Instead, I'll say that it's one of my favorite in the country: Great Basin is home to unusual geology and history, fantastic hiking trails and scenery, and off-the-beaten-path enough that you aren't likely to end up waiting in line to snag a parking spot like you might at more popular parks like Arches and Yosemite...
3 Days on Hawaii’s Big Island: Volcanoes, Lava & Stars, Oh My!
If you ask most people, Hawaii is paradise on earth. Each of the islands is truly unique, from the Garden Island of Kauai to popular Oahu to the otherworldly volcanic landscape of the Big Island. And while I've been fortunate to visit all of the main Hawaiian islands at least a little, Hawaii holds a special place in my heart because it is so very different than the others – it's home to epic stargazing, wild waterfalls, and beautiful beaches alongside lava flows...
How to Make the Most of One Day in Canyonlands National Park
One of the most important human emotions is wonder. You can find it through incredible meals, jaw-dropping art, or admiring epic views. No matter the means, wondrous experiences create an indelible mark in your memory. I had one such experience in Canyonlands National Park, where my breath was taken away by the stunning natural beauty that southwest Utah is so well known for...
The Perfect 2- or 3-Day San Juan Islands Itinerary
From the bow of the Washington State Ferry, the wind is strong and the skies are a clear, bright blue. The boat carves a path between several of the San Juan Islands; while the ferry only services four of them, there are over 400 islands in this archipelago. With so many to choose from, how on earth can you plan a simple yet memorable San Juan Islands itinerary...
