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,…
National parks are some of the most incredible places to hike in the United States, but not every trail has to be an intense, all-day trek. Some of the best hikes in the national parks are short, easy, and still packed with amazing scenery—whether it’s a dramatic arch in the desert, a peaceful forest trail,…
If you like a bit of adventure and a really unique type of hike, Spooky Gulch and Peekaboo Slot Canyons are absolutely an experience you need to have! These vibrant orange, pink, and red-orange canyons have twisting, turning trails and super tight, super narrow passages and make for an unforgettable hike. Both canyons are part…
Sedona is a nature lover’s paradise, as the town is surrounded by dozens of scraggly red mountains and interesting rock formations. As someone who adores red rocks and hiking, I was basically in heaven in Sedona. This is a special place! To help you discover the best of what Sedona has to offer, I’ve put…
The area around Antelope Canyon (near Page, Arizona) is just delightful. This region right along the Utah-Arizona border is filled with rich, red rocks, tall mesas, and deep canyons. Antelope Canyon is certainly the most famous of the “attractions” in this area, full of curving, undulating walls and shafts of light. You have Lake Powell…
National Parks in Utah are absolutely incredible, but sometimes you just want to get off the beaten path, escape the crowds, and discover something new. If that sounds like you, these are the hikes you need to check out! I love southern Utah – it’s probably my favorite spot in the entire United States. The…