Guides
Below you'll find detailed travel guides to a number of destinations, including quite a few national parks, cities, and even some of my favorite lesser-known spots. These guides highlight the best things to do and see, how to get there, best times to visit, places to stay, and more than a few secrets off the beaten path. They make great tools for trip planning, creating itineraries, and getting an idea on what to expect when traveling to a destination. Whether you're going on a relaxing vacation or a long road trip, these guides will help you explore some of the most amazing places out there.
Sequoia National Park Guide
Nestled in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, the massive sequoia trees will leave you in awe, as will the park's cascading waterfalls, granite domes, abundant wildlife, and endless mountain views.
Yosemite National Park Guide
Huge waterfalls topple over sheer cliffs, as the mighty El Capitan and Half Dome greet visitors as they enter Yosemite; its a view straight out of a fairytale. If you could only pick one park in California, Yosemite would be a wise choice.
Mexican Hat, Utah Guide
See some of the best kept secrets near this tiny town in southeastern Utah. Pueblo ruins, sandstone valleys, and some of the best views in the the entire American west are found here; all without the crowds of Utah's national parks.
Kings Canyon National Park Guide
Sharing a border with Sequoia, Kings Canyon boasts the same giant trees, as well as an untouched glacial valley prime for hiking and backpacking in solitude. With far fewer visitors than most parks, it's a true hidden gem.
Grand Teton National Park Guide
The iconic Teton range beckons, as you explore the spectacular Jackson Hole Valley, see glacial lakes, countless trails, amazing wildlife and more in this classic national park.
Sedona, Arizona Guides
Arizona's red rock country provides some of the most amazing views in the entire American southwest! Explore the Birthing Cave, Robber's Roost, and Subway Cave in the guides below.
Natural Bridges National Monument Guide
Formed by years of water erosion, three massive natural bridges are found in this remote Utah park. Enjoy hikes to all three of them, and then stick around for the stars in the world's first International Dark Sky Park.
Eternal Flame Falls Guide
Find a rare natural flame tucked behind a waterfall on this Upstate New York hike. Open year round, this short trek through the forest is magnificent no matter what time of year it is.
Key West, Florida Guide
The southernmost point of the United States is known for its laid back, carefree lifestyle; they're always on island time in Key West. Kick back and relax, walk the famed Duval Street, and enjoy the sunshine of this tropical paradise.
Dry Tortugas National Park Guide
A Civil War-era fort, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and sand beaches await visitors to this remote park. At 70 miles from the coast of Key West, this national park isn't easy to get to, but is one of the most unique and isolated there is.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Guide
Able to fit around six football fields inside, calling Carlsbad Caverns huge might be an understatement. Venture deep below the ground in this subterranean park; just be topside by sunset for the bat flight program.
Albuquerque, New Mexico Guide
New Mexico's largest city has a lot to offer, from hot air balloon rides across the desert, Sandia Peak and the tram to its top, a park of ancient petroglyphs, and of course, the food: will that be red or green hatch chili?
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument Guide
Northern Arizona has over 600 cinder cone volcanoes, and Sunset Crater is easily the most famous! See the volcano, hike to the summit of nearby craters, across lava flows, and more in this hidden gem of the National Park Service!
White Sands National Park Guide
White gypsum sand dunes go on for miles in this national park; you just might mistake them for snow, which is probably why dune-sledding is popular here. Hike out onto the dunes, and stick around for the show at sunset.
Muir Woods National Monument Guide
Only minutes from San Francisco, this amazing national monument takes you through quiet groves of some of the tallest trees on earth: the famous redwoods!
Lava River Cave Guide
In the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, venture underground into lava tube caves, created by rushing magma during a volcanic eruption over 700,000 years ago!
Sequoia National Forest Guide
Situated between and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Forest offers similar sights, but with a lot less people!
Acadia National Park Guide
Known as the Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic, Acadia boasts seaside hikes, lush forests, freshwater lakes, sand beaches, and more than a few high peaks, including Cadillac Mountain, the first place to see sunrise in the United States.
Monument Valley Tribal Park Guide
When you think of the American West, the views of Monument Valley probably come to mind. Sandstone towers dot the valley floor, while wavy red sand dunes and endless desert vistas greet you at this Navajo Tribal Park.