If you’re living in my home city and you’re undecided if nature is your thing, or even if you’re visiting The Windy City and you want to pass on the horns and train rumblings for a while, start your day at this state park that offers hiking, a fort, beautiful canyons, and a WATERFALL!
The 2017-2018 ski season was a season unlike any other. In the Airstream, Isaac and I visited 19 ski resorts in six states and two countries. We drove over 5,000 miles and spent 130 nights winter camping in temps often below freezing, all while working from the road.
It’s about leaving the places we visit better for the travelers who come next, whether that is tomorrow, in a week, a year, or centuries from now. As I reflected on my own behaviors in the outdoors, I thought about the ways my family practices the principles of Appreciate AZ.
Sleeping outside isn’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to give it a shot and not sure where to start, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to camping for beginners. For starters, know that you don’t need all of the best gear to start out with, you just need the basics.
What to bring on a hike is an important question. Hiking should always be taken seriously, whether it’s a 2-mile jaunt or a 12-mile haul. In warm-weather areas, like Arizona, it’s common for folks to need rescue simply because they weren’t prepared with enough water. In colder, more mountainous areas folks often need rescue on “easy hikes” after taking a wrong turn or not having the right layers for unexpected weather.
Coloradoans like myself are seeking the outdoors more than ever. An unprecedented number of people are playing outside, occupying trails, and seeking fresh air. Though I have always considered myself sociable and courteous on trails, having to step off constantly and let others pass by while friendly trail banter is murmured under face coverings is somewhat tiring. Fortunately, our neighbor to the north is not only full of stunning countryside, but is also the least populated state in the USA. Just over the Colorado border, Carbon County, Wyoming has all the travel amenities one could need, plus a vast outdoor landscape to explore.
America’s national parks are an iconic part of the outdoor experience in the United States. Planning a visit to one or all of these incredible national parks can raise a lot of questions. Luckily, we have answers! Make the most of your national park visit with information and helpful tips regarding the most frequently-asked national park questions!
There are so many fun things to do in national parks that planning your trip can quickly become overwhelming. While many travelers choose to simply drive in for the day and take some pictures, we recommend exploring each national park on a deeper level. Learn about the geologic or natural history of the area or experience unique outdoor activities. To be qualified as a national park by the National Park Service, only 3% of the entire park area can be used for infrastructure, such as highways, trails, campsites, visitor centers, and lodges, while the other 97% is protected land. With all that space, there are hundreds of unique things to do in national parks, but this list of absolute can’t-miss things is a good place to start.
We live in an amazing world where your connection to wildlife doesn’t have to be cut off any more than your connection with your human loved ones. With the help of modern technology and streaming services, you can now go wildlife watching online, no binoculars necessary.
We found some great tools to aid your daydreaming as you follow the recommendation to “dream now, visit later.” Get a taste of these great towns by checking out their impressive virtual tours.
Start by strolling through Stockton, California. The virtual tour is easy to use, and it starts with an overview of town and then moves from one point of interest to the next under your direction. As you cover the sidewalks and streets between locations throughout town, you start to develop an understanding of the city. You can even enter some buildings to preview those experiences.