Music and memory go hand in hand, so the best road trip playlists are packed with epic travel anthems. Listen to a little bit of everything, from classic rock to symphony orchestras during your next national park vacation.
For the ultimate archaeology road trip through the Four Corners region, look no further! From the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park to the petroglyphs at Chaco Canyon, the sandstone spires in Canyon de Chelly, and plenty of other incredible dwellings, hikes, and sites in between, this 10-day itinerary is the southwestern archaeology itinerary of a lifetime.
Skip the spring break crazies on the ski slopes and head to a quieter corner of Colorado: Alamosa in the San Luis Valley. At only 7,544 feet elevation, Alamosa is a warmer–and quieter–option for those eager to hit the highway for a road trip come springtime.
When the only crowds are wildlife, the only lines are trails leading into the forest, and the streets are crowded with the waves of locals. We’re big fans of this mountain town in the shoulder season.
When traveling to National Parks and other beautiful places in the Rocky Mountain West, you also travel across the ancestral lands of many different Indigenous tribes. We have created a guide to help you feel prepared exploring Indigenous heritage in the Rocky Mountain West on your next road trip. Indigenous communities are still very much tied to the land, and you can create a positive experience for both yourself and these communities by visiting with gratitude and respect – prepared to learn about the local cultures and histories.
For the ultimate American distillery road trip, look no further than the middle Southern states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Both states, respectively famous for their whiskey and bourbon production, are dotted with distilleries that boast strong spirits and natural beauty that lingers. Prepare to take in rolling pastures, remote hollers and scenic mountain ranges that seem to be frozen in a different time and place. This part of the lower Appalachian Mountains is an often misunderstood and underrated part of the American historical, cultural and geographic landscape. In these parts, you’ll find yourself getting lost down winding country roads that slice through some of America’s richest layers.
Flaming Gorge and the surrounding area has everything you need for an amazing water-sports-filled vacation. Homey accommodations, delicious food and gracious hosts, and boat rental options make exploration of this one-of-a-kind landscape possible. Wakeboarding, water skiing, pontoon boating, jet skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking—whatever your speed, the opportunity is there. So take the plunge! Book your trip to the Flaming Gorge and experience one of the American West’s jewels of aquatic adventure.
Flaming Gorge is a perfect centrally located stopover on the classic American national park road trip. With Rocky Mountain National Park and Dinosaur National Monument to the east, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef National Parks to the south, and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to the North, Flaming Gorge’s cold water and countless opportunities for aquatic recreation offer a refreshing escape after some hot desert exploring or strenuous hikes in the mountains.
This three-day itinerary takes you through the best of the Bighorn Mountains and includes a day at one of Washakie County’s summer time events. As always, the details are up to you! No matter what you do during your stay in Washakie County, you’re sure to have an authentic adventure—without the crowds.
Spring is one of the most exciting times of year in West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park. As the days grow longer, the landscape changes almost daily – snow lingers in the mountains, wildflowers begin to grow, and baby animals appear in the meadows.
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Find out the location of the hidden gem pictured below in our next newsletter!
Photo credit: @markwoodsoutdoors via Instagram
