When I think of Santa Barbara, I think of endless sunny days, rows of palm trees, and surfers yelling, “Cowabunga, dude!” While I did not hear any “Hang ten!” or “I’m stoked!”, there were definitely enough surfers and palm trees to satisfy my imagination. But Santa Barbara is more than just a sleepy surf town. It has wine tasting, shopping,…
If you are headed to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, you can make the full drive in less than 4 hours. However, some of the most beautiful parts of Arizona lie between the two destinations, so why not make a vacation out of it. Spend 7 days exploring red rock formations, national monuments, swimming holes, and a massive canyon on…
For years and years, people have been telling that I needed to go to Barcelona, Spain because they thought I would love it. I don’t really know why, but I was never that interested in going. However, I decided to pop in for 3 days on my 2-week Europe trip this past summer to see what the fuss was all…
Colorado is known as an outdoor haven for hikers, skiers, off-roaders, whitewater rafters, and so much more. Denver is Colorado’s most populated city, and it is also easy to fly into from most other cities in America. You have so many vacation options when Denver is your starting point. Here are my favorite 1-week road trips from Denver throughout Colorado…
Yosemite National Park is one of the most amazing national parks in America and is nestled in northern California. Yosemite is known for its epic hikes including Half Dome, which is a treacherous trail ranked one of the best in all of the USA. But you do not need to hike long or difficult hikes to see some of the…
Icefields Parkway drive is one of the most scenic drives in the world winding through the Canadian Rockies with views of glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and gorges. This drive begins just north of Lake Louise and crosses through two national parks: Banff and Jasper. You could spend days exploring this scenic roadway especially if you like long hikes. But if you…
Jasper National Park is just as beautiful as its more popular neighbor, Banff National Park, but is less crowded because it is a little more difficult to get to. This does not mean that Jasper does not get crowded because it does! Both parks display the best of the Canadian Rockies, so they are highly sought after destinations for outdoor…
The Pacific Northwest is where I find I spend a lot of my time vacationing and exploring because it is one of the most beautiful areas in America. Towering volcanoes, exquisite beaches, lush rainforests, plunging waterfalls, wildlife abundance…the list goes on and on! These four 1-week Pacific Northwest Road Trip ideas can be explored independently, or they can be combined…
Redwood National and State Parks are truly a Northern California gem. The best hikes in Redwood National Park are about the journey, not the destination. Every walk among these giant redwood trees will bring amazement to your eyes. Even as you walk amongst them, it is hard to fathom how big they truly are and how long they have been…
Crater Lake National Park is Oregon’s only national park, and it is truly unique. This pristine lake is the deepest in America and was formed when Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed. The lake is filled solely by rain and snow precipitation. These things to do at Crater Lake are the perfect way to spend 1-2 days in this truly special national…