We experienced the best sights on a Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park day trip after our 3 days in Yosemite National Park. The two parks are located roughly an hour east of Fresno in northern California. If you want to take your time and see both parks in their entirety, then you should split this trip into 2 separate…
When planning my 3-day trip to Yosemite National Park, I asked several people if there is one hike they would recommend, what would it be. All of them responded with Vernal Falls. Even though it is listed as a strenuous hike, I knew I had to do it. (Strenuous hikes are usually not my forte.) While I was at Vernal…
Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited parks in the country, and it is easy to see why. The powerful granite mountains surround the meadows of Yosemite Valley at the epicenter of this park. Located in the Sierra Nevada, this 3-day Yosemite itinerary is perfect for wildlife gazers, adventurous hikers, and wandering strollers. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to this…
Pedernales Falls State Park, located about an hour west of Austin, is a unique Texas park. The park has several hiking and biking trails that feature waterfalls, swimming areas, and scenic overlooks. It is best known for the impressive Pedernales Falls that flows over massive slabs of limestone. We spent hours exploring the limestone slabs and skipping rocks during our…
Valley of Fire State Park is a little gem I recently discovered that you can explore as a day trip from Vegas. If you find yourself needed a break from the crowds while visiting Sin City or if you are flying in or out of Las Vegas as the starting point of a Southwest road trip, take some time to…
Unless you want to get lost in the desert, suffer from heat exhaustion, and be rescued by a ranger, DO NOT do what I did when hiking Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and Spooky Slot Canyon in Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument in Utah. Also, do not let my crazy adventure deter you from doing this hike. In fact, I wish…
The five national parks of Utah (Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef) and Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument have been bucket list items for me for several years. So why not combine them into one epic Utah national park itinerary? That is exactly what I did, and what a whirlwind it was! I am so happy with how this…
When we visited Glacier National Park in early July, we had no clue the Going-to-the-Sun Road would still be closed to vehicular traffic due to winter snowfalls. If you are unfamiliar with Glacier National Park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is the main artery of the park. Without access to this thoroughfare, you are limited to what parts of the park you…
When visiting Sedona, the hike to Devil’s Bridge Arizona is a can’t-miss activity! We visited Sedona for a day during our 4 days in Northern Arizona, and this was my favorite hike in the area. With its scenic overlooks of colorful landscapes, unique garden of stacked rocks, and the iconic Devil’s Bridge, what’s not to love about this hike! Overall,…
Grand Teton National Park is a park within the magnificent Teton Mountain Range near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In addition to the rugged mountains, this park boasts beautiful lakes, glaciers, rivers, and wildlife. The park contains several hikes to see its beauty, but my favorite hike within the park is to Inspiration Point via Hidden Falls at Jenny Lake. There are…