Joshua Tree National Park is named for its most iconic feature: the Joshua tree. These unusual plants grow primarily within the Mojave Desert in southern California and Nevada, with a small range extending into western Arizona. The park contains an estimated 879,000 Joshua trees, and as you drive through, you’ll often see hills and valleys…
Death Valley National Park is a place of extremes. Located in eastern California, right along the Nevada border, it’s officially the hottest place on Earth, holding the world record for the highest air temperature ever recorded at 134°F (57°C). It’s also the driest place in the United States, averaging only about two inches of rain…
Tucked away in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is an exciting hike to one of the most insanely epic arches in the entire state of Utah. Yes, I’ve done Delicate Arch. Yes, Druid Arch *might* even be better (but really, it’s not a competition—they’re both amazing!) Canyonlands is the least visited National Park…
Exploring the best slot canyons in the Southwest is one of my favorite things and has led to some incredible hiking experiences. Truly, these are some of the most visually stunning and geologically fascinating landscapes in the United States. Plus – who can deny that exploring a slot canyon just feels like a great adventure??…
Canyonlands National Park is one of the most unique and awe-inspiring landscapes in the United States. Located in southeast Utah, close to Arches National Park and not far from Goblin Valley State Park and Capitol Reef National Park, this desert park offers visitors the opportunity to explore dramatic canyons, towering mesas, and iconic sandstone formations…
This national park is an incredible destination, but not for the usual reasons that a national park is famous. While it does have mountains, vistas, and trails, the main focus of Mesa Verde National Park (located in southwest Colorado) is jaw-dropping human achievements – hundreds of dwellings constructed in small cracks in the middle of…
Swamps don’t usually make most people’s travel lists—but this isn’t just any swamp. Mysterious, massive, and full of life, this place feels like something out of another world… The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the most unique natural environments in the United States. Spanning 630 square miles (nearly half a million acres), the Okefenokee National…
Outside of the popular Arizona destinations like the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and Sedona are a whole host of other incredible places just waiting to be discovered… For me, Petrified Forest National Park is the literal definition of a hidden gem (in more ways than one!). First off, it truly does feel actually…
Utah’s landscapes have a way of making my soul feel alive. There’s just something about the red rock, the towering cliffs, and the deep, winding canyons that pulls me in every time. The contrast of blue sky against rust-colored stone, the way the light shifts across the desert, and the sheer scale of these formations…
National Parks tend to get all the attention—and for good reason. They’re home to some of the most iconic landscapes in the country, with some of the most magnificent National Parks concentrated in the western US. But also scattered across the west are dozens of National Monuments that quietly protect places just as scenic, fascinating,…