Not sure where to begin your next California road trip? Let us help! Just a few hours from the north entrance of Yosemite National Park is a lively city known as Stockton. Settled between the San Francisco Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada mountains, Stockton is ideal for a traveler looking to get a healthy mix of culture, food, and outdoor adventure. Plan your trip in advance—check out this sample itinerary!
If you’re in search of the best hot springs in South Dakota, they aren’t too hard to track down. The town of Hot Springs didn’t get its name for nothing! Not only will you find incredible natural springs in this all-American town, but you’ll be close to outdoor adventure, a world-class museum, relaxing spas, exciting water slides, and so much more.
Traveling from Phoenix to the Mojave Desert, I stopped in Parker, Arizona for a few days. This unique gem of a destination is located within the “West Coast” region of Arizona on the Colorado River and isn’t far from larger metropolitan areas like Phoenix (160 miles) and Las Vegas (178 miles). I was delighted by the fascinating attractions around this small town! I hiked outside in a mountain park, wandered around a ghost town, and spent the afternoon relaxing in the Colorado River. Less than two hours from Joshua Tree National Park, Parker is such a fun place to pass a few days.
Grand American adventures and authentic western ranch experiences await on your holiday to Yellowstone if you make sure you spend some time in Cody, Wyoming.
In the southwest corner of South Dakota lies the sometimes underrated Black Hills region. The area is home to multiple national parks, memorials, and monuments as well as a couple very impressive state parks. Several charming small towns also dot the Black Hills region—one of those towns is Sturgis, SD.
While Sturgis is likely best-known for its annual motorcycle rally that draws hundreds of thousands to the area each year, the town is worth a visit any time of the year, on a motorcycle or not. It’s also a great option as a base for your Black Hills vacation. With this three-day itinerary, discover Sturgis, the Black Hills, and beyond.
A summertime trip to Silverthorne guarantees a memorable and satisfying experience for young and not-so-young alike.
Estes Park is known as the basecamp for Rocky Mountain National Park. Just northwest of Denver, the small town is surrounded on three sides by federally protected land. What does that mean for us? Estes Park is a mecca for outdoor sports and activities all year-round. Plus, it has a thriving downtown area, events for every season, and great local cuisine.
For some of us, spending time in places that are like real life winter wonderlands brings an almost indescribable joy. No doubt the Scandinavians have a word for it (think hygge or koselig) since they truly embrace winter. Being surrounded by snow-covered trees with snow gently falling makes the heart beat a little faster with giddy, child-like excitement!
Around every corner, I felt like I was stumbling upon a new place, ancient site, or the greatest little hotel in Southeast Utah. Sentiments like, “do people know they can go axe throwing in this tiny town?” I felt constantly surprised and delighted! Blanding is the largest town in the region and offers great access to Bears Ears National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
I stood at an overlook on the Chesler Park Loop Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands, struck by how quiet it was. The sun was setting behind me, and all of the candy cane colored rock spires stood at attention in the distance. It was amazing how few hikers there were in this part of the national park. I drove back down the dirt road to the highway, dodging cows in the dark and settled into my basecamp in Monticello, Utah. Over the coming days, I would see how perfectly my travel plans would align with this convenient location.