I'm unquestionably adventurous, but I'm not necessarily a thrillseeker or what you'd call an adrenaline junkie. I love hiking and snorkeling, and floating the Snake River in the Tetons was one of my all-time favorite experiences — but you're not likely to catch me, say, skydiving. That's precisely why hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park (or any other most dangerous hikes in th[...]
I remember every detail of my lunch date on January 1st, 2020. That was the day I found out about winning The Wave Arizona lottery — the first time. As we waited for our food, my lunch date said, "I just got my email about The Wave Coyote Buttes permit!" I assumed it was a rejection letter, identical to the one I received. But he started reading and it wasn't a rejection at all. It st[...]
I'm a national parks geek through and through and I'm always game for camping or hiking. I also enjoy life's finer and more romantic offerings, things like spa treatments and wine tastings. So when we started planning a San Francisco/Wine Country weekend trip for Valentine's Day, I set out to find the most romantic wineries in Napa. With several hundred wineries in the Napa Valley, this[...]
Moab, Utah, is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. From mountain biking and off-roading in Moab to hiking, camping, and much, much more, you’ll find it in this small but incredibly impressive mountain town. Being that the iconic red slickrock is some of the most famous terrain in the world and two of Utah's "Mighty 5" are here, it's common for visitors to research the best hikes in Moa[...]
As soon as we settled on visiting Moab in November for a 30th birthday trip (not mine!), I began planning our itinerary. We agreed almost immediately that off roading in Moab was a priority — in addition, of course, to hiking and exploring two of the country's most iconic national parks, Arches and Canyonlands. For the uninitiated, off roading in Moab is legendary. The enchanting red[...]
There's the old saying that the journey is the destination. While I generally agree with that — y'all know I love a good road trip — there are exceptions to every rule. Take, for example, these six off the beaten path restaurants that aren't accessible by car. Getting to the unique dining experiences is certainly a journey, but the destinations themselves are pretty spectacular too.[...]
Grand Teton was one of my favorite national parks long before I actually visited. There's just something so mesmerizing about those distinctly rugged, craggy peaks. So as soon as I started planning a Bozeman > Big Sky > Yellowstone National Park > Jackson vacation, I knew that Jackson Hole float trips were an absolute must. Don't get me wrong: There are many heavy-hitting natio[...]
Are you a National Parks Annual Pass holder? If not, and you're one of the 327.5 million people who visited a national park last year, you likely spent a substantial amount on admission fees alone. The average cost is $30 per vehicle, but some parks charge more. Keep in mind, that's just for a single park. If you were, say, road-tripping through Utah and taking on the best hikes in Arch[...]
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